Bendel Insurance took all three points in their NPFL Regular Season opener, beating Warri Wolves 2:1 on Saturday. The match ended at the home ground with the hosts holding on for victory. It marked the beginning of their campaign in the league.
Before kick-off, the table told its own story. Bendel Insurance started from sixth place after last season, while Warri Wolves sat in fifteenth. The result flipped those positions immediately, with the home side jumping to the top of the standings on three points and the visitors remaining at the bottom with none.
By then, the home side had shown they could convert their early promise. Their recent results had been mixed — a 3:3 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors, a 1:1 stalemate against Remo Stars, and losses to Enugu Rangers and others. But Saturday was different. They took the lead and kept it.
Warri Wolves, meanwhile, brought a run of disappointment to this fixture. Their last five matches included three defeats by heavy margins, including 0:3 losses to Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars. Only their 2:1 win over Abia Warriors offered any comfort. This time, they came up short.
What the scoreline suggests is straightforward. Bendel Insurance extended their momentum with a clean performance, while Warri Wolves' struggles appear to continue into the new season. The gap between them is now three points, though both have played just one game.