Tenebe targets NPFL title as Insurance begins season

Bendel Insurance chairman Jarrett Tenebe is confident that his Benin Arsenals can end a 47-year wait for a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title in the 2026/27 season. Speaking to journalists ahead of the club's CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B campaign in Burkina Faso, Tenebe highlighted that the team's preparations have positioned it well for a serious title challenge.

The club will kick off its NPFL27 campaign on Sunday, August 30, against Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, with a 4 p.m. kickoff. Bendel Insurance previously won the NPFL title in 1973 and 1979, and currently sits fifth in the standings for the last two seasons. Tenebe attributed the team's improved performance to enhanced recruitment, preparations, and player incentives, specifically financial rewards for each goal scored.

He expressed satisfaction with the impact of this strategy, which helped Insurance finish strongly last season, narrowly missing out on continental qualification. The optimism surrounding the club is further fueled by Edo Queens' progress in the CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B qualifiers in Burkina Faso, where they recently defeated ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast 3-1.

While the immediate target for Bendel Insurance is to translate its improved preparations into a title-winning NPFL campaign and bring the trophy back to Benin City, the club's success in both men's and women's football could strengthen Edo State's aspirations in both areas.