Rivers United will aim to strengthen their position at the top of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table when they travel to Benin City to face Bendel Insurance on Sunday, October 25.
The Matchday 10 encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 p.m. Nigerian time, with both teams seeking valuable points.
Rivers United enter the fixture unbeaten after nine matches, having recorded four wins and five draws. Finidi George’s side have scored 13 goals and conceded just twice, highlighting their defensive strength.
However, consecutive goalless draws against Abia Warriors and Barau FC have exposed a recent lack of cutting edge in attack. The Port Harcourt-based side will need greater efficiency in front of goal if they are to secure maximum points away from home.
Bendel Insurance, meanwhile, will look to use home advantage to return to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Lagos. Their 4-1 victory over Barau FC earlier in October demonstrated their attacking potential, with Kayode Oke among the players capable of posing a threat.
Confirmed injury and suspension updates for either side are unavailable, making the teams’ final selections important to watch ahead of kick-off.
The teams have met nine times in recorded league encounters, with Rivers United winning three matches, Bendel Insurance claiming one victory and five games ending in draws.
Their most recent meeting, on March 8, 2026, reportedly ended in a 3-1 victory for Rivers United. Bendel Insurance, however, held the Pride of Rivers to a goalless draw in Benin City in November 2025.
For the hosts, the challenge will be to turn their home advantage into a positive result against an unbeaten opponent. Rivers United, on the other hand, will seek to maintain their defensive discipline while improving their attacking output.
The likely tactical approach could see Bendel Insurance adopt a balanced formation built around a back four, three midfielders and three attackers. Rivers United could also deploy a back four, supported by three central midfielders, two wide attackers and a central striker. These are tentative tactical projections, not confirmed starting line-ups.
Rivers United’s defensive record and stronger head-to-head results give them reasons for confidence, but Bendel Insurance’s home support could make the contest difficult.
The visitors will need to convert their chances more effectively to claim all three points, while Bendel could look to exploit any attacking frustration.
Prediction: Bendel Insurance 1-1 Rivers United
A draw is a plausible outcome, although Rivers United will be determined to extend their unbeaten run and maintain their position among the leading contenders for the NPFL title.
