Rivers United will travel to Benin City on Sunday, October 25, aiming to preserve their unbeaten record and strengthen their position at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table when they face Bendel Insurance.
The Matchday 10 encounter will take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Nigerian time.
The Pride of Rivers head into the fixture after consecutive goalless draws against Abia Warriors and Barau FC. Their encounter with Barau was interrupted by heavy rainfall on Sunday, October 18, before the remaining minutes were completed on Monday morning.
Despite dropping points in their last two matches, Finidi George’s side remain unbeaten after nine league games, recording four wins and five draws. They have scored 13 goals and conceded just twice, giving them the league’s strongest defensive record, according to the supplied standings.
Rivers United currently lead the table with 17 points, level with defending champions Enugu Rangers, who have a game in hand. Sporting Lagos occupy third place with 15 points, while Bendel Insurance sit tenth with 12 points from eight matches.
Bendel Insurance, however, will pose a challenge for the visitors. The Benin-based side demonstrated their attacking threat with a 4-1 victory over Barau FC on October 4, with Kayode Oke scoring twice. They subsequently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Lagos.
The hosts will be eager to use home advantage to return to winning ways, while Rivers United know that a victory could strengthen their position at the summit.
With the title race becoming increasingly competitive, Finidi’s men will need to combine their defensive discipline with greater attacking efficiency to overcome their opponents.
A positive result in Benin City would further strengthen Rivers United’s title challenge and keep the pressure on Rangers in the race for the NPFL crown.
