Unbeaten Rivers United visit Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Sunday (today), with the Nigeria Premier Football League’s meanest defence set to meet one of its freest-scoring home sides.
The Pride of Rivers lead the table on 17 points from nine matches, level with Enugu Rangers, who have a game in hand.
They have won four and drawn five, scoring 13 goals and conceding only two. No other club in the league has conceded fewer than seven. Their latest outing was a 0-0 draw with Barau last weekend.
The Benin Arsenals are 10th on 12 points from eight matches. They have won four and lost four, drawing none, and have scored 14 goals while conceding 13. That record points to a side that plays to win or lose.
Head coach Kennedy Boboye has said his players are fully prepared to halt the visitors’ strong start and take maximum points at home.
“We are ready for Rivers United on Sunday. We know them, and they know our strength. This time, they won’t go back with any point. We are aiming for maximum points,” Boboye told the club’s media.
“We respect them, but they can’t intimidate us at our fortress. Our team is in good shape despite some injury concerns. I believe we are good to go.”
The hosts will be without midfielder Sabiu Ibrahim, who returned to training this week after nearly two months out with a clavicle fracture, but is not expected to be involved.
The stakes are high for both teams. Rangers’ fixture against Sporting Lagos has been postponed, so a win would lift Rivers clear at the top. A Bendel victory would end the league’s last unbeaten record.
Rivers have drawn more than half of their matches, so converting draws into wins remains their challenge. Bendel, scoring freely at home, will hope to exploit that.
Kick-off is at 4pm.
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