Bendel Insurance Rally to Beat Kano Pillars in Five-Goal NPFL Thriller

Bendel Insurance came from behind to defeat Kano Pillars 3–2 in a pulsating Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash on Saturday, securing their first win under head coach Kennedy Boboye.

Kano Pillars looked in control early. Kayode Oke struck in the 17th minute to put Bendel on the back foot.  But the visitors responded Rabiu Ali converted a penalty in the 34th minute, leveling the match, and then just four minutes later Chiedozie Okorie netted to give Pillars the lead.

Yet Insurance would not be denied. With time running out, Emmanuel Dung equalised in the 75th minute, and in stoppage time Akpan Emmanuel fired in the winner to spark wild celebrations.

The victory ends Insurance’s four-game run under Boboye without a win three losses and a draw.  Meanwhile, Kano Pillars remain without a win under their current coach Mohammed Babaganaru, extending their early-season woes.

Editorial

In the unrelenting theatre of the NPFL, Bendel Insurance’s heroic comeback against Kano Pillars is more than just a win — it is a statement of intent. Under Kennedy Boboye, the Benin-based side have endured a rough patch. Four matches without victory can erode momentum, but in those final, desperate minutes, they found not just a goal, but a spirit.

Kayode Oke’s early strike for Insurance was followed by a brutal counter from Pillars Rabiu Ali’s composed penalty and Chiedozie Okorie’s incisive finish looked to have sealed the narrative. But football, at its best, is rarely kind to narratives. Insurance clawed back, first through Emmanuel Dung whose finish screamed belief, and then through Akpan Emmanuel, who buried the winner in stoppage time. That late finish that roar from the crowd is the sound of a team rediscovering themselves.

Kano Pillars, for all their early control, now face a deeper question. Under Babaganaru, their inability to close out matches is becoming a pattern. Their slender lead evaporated, not because they were outclassed, but because they allowed resilience to become their undoing.

And this is where the broader tale lies: in a league as unpredictable as the NPFL, character often trumps form. Insurance showed they still have it. They showed they can rally. For Boboye, this win provides not just three points, but a foundation — a bridge from disappointment to belief.

If they build on this, they may yet be more than a team on the rise; they may become a force that refuses to be written off. And for their rivals including Pillars that should be genuinely concerning.

Did You Know?

1. Bendel Insurance’s Nickname The club is sometimes called the “Benin Arsenals,” reflecting their historic ambition and attacking heritage.
2. Veteran Influence Rabiu Ali, who converted the penalty for Kano Pillars, is one of the most experienced players in the NPFL, known for his leadership and set-piece prowess.
3. Coach Kennedy Boboye Before joining Bendel Insurance, Boboye played for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets and had a coaching stint with various clubs in the Nigerian league.
4. Stoppage-Time Drama Insurance’s winning goal came in stoppage time a trait becoming increasingly common in tightly fought NPFL matches.
5. NPFL Competitiveness The Nigeria Premier Football League is known for its unpredictability comebacks like this one often decide promotion, relegation, and title races.