As the new season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)season begins with twenty clubs from across the country,Bendel Insurance Football club of Benin has arrived in Maiduguri,Borno state capital in readiness to honour their first match which is against Elkanemi Warriors FC.
The Benin Arsenals have been paired against the Warriors in the NPFL Match Day 1 fixture, scheduled to hold on Sunday, August 24,2025. Kickoff time is 4pm at the Elkanemi Stadium in Maiduguri.
Bendel Insurance FC left for Maiduguri on Thursday with 28-man team arrived in Maiduguri at about 12:50 pm after flying in MaxAir Boewing 737 -300/500 for over an hour from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,Abuja.
The Benin Arsenals started the air journey in Lagos as they departed Murtala Mohammed Airport at about 7am aboard United Nigeria Airlines and landed in Abuja at about 8:12 am.
The Insurance FC team is made up of 20 players and 8 officials as they begin their campaigns in the far northern Nigeria. Their next away match is also taking them to the North-Kano state where they will be guests to newly promoted Barau FC.
Insurance are hosts to their arch rivals Shooting Stars SC of Ibadan next week as football lovers in Edo state are already salivating for the excitement and entrainment that go with premier league football.
The Benin based team look good enough to start the new football season as strong contenders, having proven to have worked hard in their preparation for the new season following their outstanding performances at the Bayelsa preseason tournament which they won without tasting any defeat
Arriving at the Maiduguri International Airport at about 1:00 pm, the General manager of Bendel Insurance FC Charles Ihimekpen and the head coach Greg Ikhenoba expressed gratitude to the Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele for keeping their promises of making welfare for Bendel Insurance FC a top priority.
Coach Ikhenoba assured the Governor and Edo people of loyalty and dedication to work.
