The Benin Arsenals coach says his players are mentally ready for a tough Friday night trip to Ibadan, where Shooting Stars have beaten them 1-0 three times running.
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Bendel Insurance coach Kennedy Boboye says his players are mentally ready for Friday’s Matchday 13 trip to Shooting Stars, as FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. The NPFL game kicks off at 6:00pm WAT at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
Boboye said Bendel respect only big clubs like themselves, but they are not afraid of any team in the league. He said the Benin Arsenals approach every opponent with a winning mentality and self belief, whether they play at home or away.
“We don’t believe in home advantage. We only pray for good officiating,” he told the club’s media. Fans can predict Bendel’s result on Super9ja before kick-off.
Bendel are second in the table with 21 points from 12 games, after seven wins and five defeats. Their away record has been their weak spot, with just one win from six road games.
Shooting Stars are 13th with 15 points and will want to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at Barau last Sunday. They are unbeaten at home this season, with four wins and two draws from six games.
Shooting Stars have also won the last three home meetings against Bendel, each by 1-0. The most recent came in January, when Qamar Adegoke’s 72nd-minute goal ended Bendel’s nine-game unbeaten run under Boboye. Readers following the title race can see the Bet9ja bonus essentials.
Boboye also urged his players to approach every fixture with a champions’ mentality if they are serious about challenging for the title. He wants them to help end the club’s long wait for major silverware.
Bendel arrive in good spirits after a 2-1 win over Niger Tornadoes last Sunday, decided by John Taiwo’s goal in the 90th minute plus five. They trail leaders Enugu Rangers, who have a game in hand.
Can Bendel finally break their Ibadan hoodoo? A win would keep the pressure on the leaders, while a defeat would let the chasing pack close in. New Bet9ja users can look up the YOHAIG code for Bet9ja starters.
Kick-off in Ibadan is at 6:00pm WAT on Friday, and the game opens Matchday 13.
📌 Did You Know?
- Boboye’s Bendel went nine games unbeaten before the January defeat at Shooting Stars, which was only his second loss in charge.
- That defeat dropped Bendel to eighth place on 32 points at the time.
- Bendel and Shooting Stars drew 1-1 in Benin City on August 30, 2025.
- Bendel’s last two home wins over Shooting Stars were 2-0 in October 2023 and 1-0 in October 2024.
- In mid-October, Bendel were among four NPFL sides without a single point on the road this season.
