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Bendel Insurance coach, Kennedy Boboye, has charged his players to secure victory when they host Ikorodu City in Wednesday’s Matchday 5 fixture of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, season.
Boboye gave the charge in Benin after the team’s final training session at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the encounter.
The coach said the Benin Arsenal were ready for the fixture and urged his players to respond strongly following their 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Ranchers Bees FC in Kano on Saturday.
“Tomorrow’s game is a must-win for us because if we want to be among the contenders for the league title, we must work hard to remain in the top three from the start of the season,” Boboye said.
He added that victory could move Insurance back into the upper positions on the league table.
Bendel Insurance have six points from their opening four matches, recording two wins and two defeats.
Reflecting on the team's away struggles, Boboye said his players performed well against Ranchers Bees but were punished for their mistakes.
He expressed confidence that the team would improve as the season progresses, urging supporters to consider the conditions under which the players compete away from home.
“The wins will come. Let’s believe in ourselves. We are working tirelessly on the areas where we have issues, and soon we will get it right,” he said.
Boboye also said some of the team’s difficulties were linked to the adjustment period for new players, noting that some of them were yet to fully settle into the squad.
The fixture will be the first midweek match of the new NPFL season at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
