Bendel Insurance are hunting their first clean sheet of the 2026/27 EUROMATCH NPFL season as they host Niger Tornadoes at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Sunday.
The Benin Arsenals stand alone as the only side yet to keep a shutout in the league this campaign.
Despite an attacking output of around 18 goals, they have conceded in every outing (16 goals against from 11 games), leaving them with a solid but leaky defensive record.
Insurance sit fourth on 18 points from 11 matches (six wins, zero draws, five losses).
They are strong at home and have shown resilience, including a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Rivers United and a recent 2-1 away win at Kwara United.
A narrow 1-0 loss to Enugu Rangers in a rescheduled fixture (which they have formally petitioned over a disputed goal involving a displaced crossbar) interrupted some momentum, but the side under the coaching staff remains focused on a continental push.
Niger Tornadoes arrive in eighth place with 16 points (four wins, four draws, three losses). The Ikon Allah Boys have been more compact defensively in recent weeks, conceding fewer goals overall, and they claimed a notable away win earlier in the season.
Head-to-head history slightly favours Bendel at home, with previous encounters including a 1-0 win in September 2025 and a 3-0 success in February 2025, though draws and tighter contests have also featured.
For Insurance, the priority is clear: tighten up at the back while continuing to score. A first clean sheet combined with three points would boost their position in a congested upper half of the table and provide a platform for the remainder of the season.
