By SCM Sports Desk I Sunday, Sept 13, 2026
BENIN CITY, NIGERIA — Bendel Insurance put on a sparkling display of attacking football to see off a resilient Kun Khalifat 4-2 in a pulsating Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The match erupted into life early when star forward Alex Oweilayefa put the hosts ahead after just five minutes with a composed finish.
Sensing blood, Bendel Insurance doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Suraju Lawal found space in the box to round off a swift team move, giving the home side a commanding 2-0 lead going into the break.
The second half began in much the same fashion. Just two minutes after the restart, talismanic striker Chinedu Nwosu capitalized on sloppy defending to make it 3-0, effectively putting the Benin Arsenal in total control. Kun Khalifat refused to surrender and earned a route back into the contest when Uchechukwu Onuoha converted a 68th-minute penalty.
However, their optimism was short-lived; Nwosu struck back almost immediately, converting a penalty of his own in the 71st minute to grab his second goal of the match and restore Insurance’s three-goal cushion.
The visitors grabbed a late consolation through Oghenetega Ebetomame in the 85th minute, but Bendel Insurance safely managed the remaining minutes to secure a deserved 4-2 victory.
In terms of overall match statistics, Bendel Insurance dominated possession with 58% of the ball compared to Kun Khalifat’s 42%. The home side registered a total of 14 shots throughout the contest, testing the opposition goalkeeper with eight shots on target.
Kun Khalifat managed nine shots in total, four of which were on target. Discipline remained relatively firm despite the high intensity, with Bendel Insurance collecting two yellow cards to Kun Khalifat’s three.
Both sides were awarded one penalty kick each in the second half, with both spot-kicks converted successfully. Bendel Insurance earned six corner kicks across the 90 minutes, while the visitors created three corner opportunities of their own.
The victory capped off an emphatic performance by the home team, driven by star performances from double-scorer Chinedu Nwosu and early goalscorer Alex Oweilayefa, solidifying their early-season momentum in the NPFL.
