By Raphael Okhiria
The Bendel Insurance Football Club, popularly known as the ‘Benin Arsenals’, on Monday evening recorded their first away victory against Katsina Utd in Ilorin, Kwara State; special thanks to Elmer Arunta scored the only goal of the match.
It was the Match Day 16 of the ongoing Nigeria Premier Football League. The thrilling match ended 1-0 in favour of the Bendel Insurance FC of Benin, Edo State.
Elmer Arunta scored the lone goal of the match for the ‘Benin Arsenals’ in the 72 minute which many football fans and officials considered as a reward for the Insurance FC dominance in the encounter at the Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin.
Coach Kennedy Boboye managed Insurance FC showed their determination to fight their way out of the relegation zone as they took the battle to the gate of the host team with superior display from the start to the end of the game.
However, the Insurance players missed and wasted several scoring opportunities, perhaps owing to the strikers who seemed too eager to defeat their opponents.
The Elmer Arunta’s 72 minute goal, aside from giving Bendel Insurance FC their first away victory in the current season, also lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Insurance FC were 19th on the table with 16 points before the match day 16 clash with Katsina Utd who is occupying the 11th position with 21 points. Insurance FC with the victory moved up to the 15th position on the ranking table.
Insurance FC manager Kennedy Boboye had expressed his optimism after thrashing Wikki Tourists 3-0 in Benin last week that a back-to-back victory was possible.
Boboye is expected to lead his team back home with confidence ahead of their home game in the NPFL match day 17 against Rangers International of Enugu.
The match is scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the prestigious Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.