Preview: Bendel Insurance are coming to town, but can Shooting Stars halt their stride?

NPFL Preview: Bendel Insurance are coming to town, but can Shooting Stars halt their stride?

Izuchukwu Akawor 10:03 - 12.02.2023

Ibadan will be agog for this one as the Benin Arsenals are in town to battle the Oluyole Warriors.

Bendel Insurance will further test their super six credentials when they take to the Lekan Salami pitch in Ibadan on Sunday.

Insurance are guests of the home side, Shooting Stars, who are looking to impress their home fans with another victorious outing.

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Shooting Stars 

The home side has had a slow start to the season with just two wins in six matches played so far in the abridged season.

It comes as a surprise following their impressive preseason which saw them reportedly score 88 goals in 24 matches while winning N100 million in one of the competitions.

Shooting Stars are looking for their third win of the season.

However, the Warriors will welcome the league leaders to the Lekan Salami in a confident mood having won the last time they played at the same venue.

They defeated Nasarawa United 2-0 to move up the table and improve their record at home to three matches without defeat.

Shooting Stars have had a slow start to the season.

Gbenga Ogunbote will be desperate to see his side repeat that performance against the unbeaten Insurance.

Bendel Insurance

The newly promoted outfit has had an outstanding start to life following their return to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

Bendel Insurance are the only unbeaten team in the NPFL this season.

Bendel Insurance have won all but one of their six matches this season and is the only unbeaten side left in the division this season.

Three of the five wins this season have come on the road, with the last one a hard-earned 0-1 win over El Kanemi Warriors.

Insurance have a 100% record on the road this season.

The league leaders will be looking to maintain their 100% record on the road this season but will be weary of their hosts who are managed by an Oracle.

Head-to-head 

This has always been a keenly contested affair in the country, but the visitors have had the edge in recent times.

In their last four matches, Insurance has two wins compared to Shooting’s one, with one for the victories for the Benin Arsenals a 2-1 at the Lekan Salami back in 2019.

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Men to watch out for

For the home side, all eyes will be on super forward Samuel Ayanrinde, who was the hero the last time Shooting played at home.

Ayanrinde netted both goals to inspire the Stars to the win over Nasarawa United. The fans will be hoping he has not lost his magic wand for this one.

Imade Oserenkhoe

The Benin Arsenal is one of the famous faces in the NPFL at the moment following a blistering start to the season.

Imade Oserenkhoe is the top scorer this season with four goals.

Oserenkhoe became the first player to score in the league this season and went on to score in his first four matches for Bendel Insurance.

He was expertly caged at home the last time by Gombe United in the goalless affair in week six, but the 22-year-old remains the talisman for the Group A leaders.

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