The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City played host to a tense Nigeria Premier Football League encounter between Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars, two teams seeking their first victory of the season. Matchday two of the NPFL saw these old rivals lock horns, both coming off opening-day defeats, adding an extra layer of urgency to the fixture. The atmosphere was electric as fans anticipated a fierce contest, and the match did not disappoint, ending in a 1-1 draw that left both sides still searching for their maiden win. The draw extended Bendel Insurance’s impressive home record against Shooting Stars, maintaining their unbeaten streak against the Oluyole Warriors in Benin since 1999.
Shooting Stars drew first blood early in the match, capitalizing on their initial attacking momentum. In the 13th minute, Ayodele Ismail showcased his skill, cutting in from the flank and unleashing a shot past Insurance goalkeeper Joshua Baba, giving the visitors a deserved lead. Their joy was short-lived, however, as Bendel Insurance responded swiftly. Just two minutes later, Alex restored parity for the home side with a composed finish, igniting the home crowd and setting the stage for an open and exciting contest. The rapid exchange of goals injected an added intensity into the match, promising a thrilling encounter.
The remainder of the first half witnessed a seesaw battle, with both teams creating opportunities. Shooting Stars threatened through Awosanmi Promise’s long-range effort, which narrowly missed the target, while Insurance was denied a potential go-ahead goal by a crucial goal-line clearance from Shooting Stars captain Gali Falke. The physicality of the match increased as the half wore on, culminating in a yellow card for goalscorer Ismail after a robust challenge. The teams entered the break level at 1-1, with Bendel Insurance enjoying more possession, while Shooting Stars remained dangerous on the counter-attack.
The second half saw a shift in tactics, with both coaches making substitutions to influence the game. Shooting Stars coach Nurudeen Aweroro made early changes, bringing on Okon for Utin, followed by the introductions of Ayobami Junior and new signing Chidiebere Nnachi for Ismail and Abayomi. Bendel Insurance also shuffled their lineup, introducing Elmer Arunta and Israel Emmanuel. As the game progressed, clear-cut chances became scarce, and the competitive nature of the match was further underscored by a series of yellow cards, including bookings for Falke and Okoro of Shooting Stars and a caution for goalkeeper Lawal for dissent. Despite the cautions, Lawal proved to be Shooting Stars’ savior, producing a vital late save to deny Insurance a winning goal in the closing minutes, securing a hard-fought point for his team.
The 1-1 draw leaves both Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars with a single point from their opening two matches, increasing the pressure on both sides to secure a victory in their upcoming fixtures. For Shooting Stars, the result represented a step forward after their opening-day defeat, although coach Aweroro will likely be concerned about his team’s lack of cutting edge in attack, despite the introduction of new signing Nnachi. Bendel Insurance coach Greg Ikhenoba, on the other hand, will be disappointed that his team couldn’t capitalize on home advantage and convert their possession into three points, especially given the presence of former Shooting Stars players Kayode Oke and Bamidele Adeniji in his squad.
The draw maintains the closely contested nature of the rivalry between these two clubs. In their previous six meetings, both teams had recorded two wins each, with two draws, and this latest encounter continued that trend. Both teams now face crucial matches in Matchday three, with Shooting Stars hosting Ikorodu City in Ibadan, while Bendel Insurance travels to Kano to face newcomers Barau. The pressure is on both sides to secure their first victories of the season and avoid slipping further down the table in the early stages of the campaign. The result in Benin underscores the competitive nature of the NPFL, where every point is hard-earned and the margins between victory and defeat are often slim. Both Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars will be looking to build on this draw and find their winning form in the weeks ahead.
