Bendel Insurance ended Rivers United’s unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign with a late 2-1 win in Benin City, while Nasarawa United beat Enyimba 1-0 to stay among the front-runners.
Quick facts
- Bendel Insurance won 2-1 against previously unbeaten Rivers United.
- Rivers United still led the Matchday 10 table on 17 points with a +10 goal difference.
- Nasarawa United moved level on 17 points after defeating Enyimba.
- Inter Lagos remained bottom with two points following a three-point, three-goal sanction.
Freeman Wuchirwe put the Benin Arsenal in front three minutes after the interval, but Chijioke Mbaoma levelled for Rivers United in the 73rd minute. Jonathan Mariga then delivered the decisive goal in the 89th minute to seal the home side’s victory.
Rivers United retained first place after 10 rounds, collecting 17 points and holding a goal difference of +10. Rangers International were second on the same number of points, although they had played only eight matches and had two games in hand.
Nasarawa United sat third, also with 17 points from 10 fixtures. Jofrank Istifanus scored in the 23rd minute as the Solid Miners edged Enyimba 1-0 and remained firmly involved in the title battle.
Enyimba stayed 19th in the standings, with eight points and a -4 goal difference. Kun Khalifat, meanwhile, secured an important 1-0 result over Inter Lagos to improve their own league position.
Inter Lagos were left at the foot of the table on two points from 10 games. Their total includes a deduction of three points and three goals for an infringement.
Katsina United and Plateau United produced a 2-2 draw. Plateau went ahead through a 30th-minute own goal before Jibril Ibrahim equalised in the 82nd minute.
Yusha’u Armiya’u appeared to have won it for Katsina when he scored two minutes later, but Umar Rabiu struck in added time to rescue a point for Plateau.
Barau FC and Kwara United also shared the points after a 1-1 finish. Anthony Sunday opened the scoring in the 40th minute, with Goodluck Ogbolu bringing Kwara level in the 63rd.
Ikorodu City recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Shooting Stars. Taofeek Otanivi struck in the third minute and Desmond Ojietefian added a second in the 36th.
Donald Obiajulu pulled one back in the 44th minute before scoring again in the 83rd to complete his double and secure the comeback.
Niger Tornadoes claimed a 1-0 away victory against Abia Warriors thanks to Wasiu Jimoh’s 56th-minute effort. Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars finished without a goal in their meeting.
Earlier on Saturday, Katsina United and Plateau United had contested an entertaining 2-2 match at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, with the Chanji Boys fighting back from a two-goal deficit.
