All eyes will be on the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State as Bendel Insurance slug it out with Remo Stars in one of the much anticipated games in the Nigeria Professional Football League this weekend.
The action will kick off at 4 pm Nigeria time on Sunday, 5 November 2023. Which of these teams will come out on top?
Any bigger encounter you are looking forward to this weekend?#BINREM#NPFL24#MD7
Adaaaaaaaa BENDEL! pic.twitter.com/Shbejpvciy
— Bendel Insurance FC (@BendelInsurance) November 2, 2023
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars match preview
Monday Adigie's outfit dropped points at home in their last outing against Akwa United and will look to avoid such a result again in front of their fans as they host the league leaders.
The loss of top striker Imade Osarenkhoe is telling on Bendel Insurance since his move abroad. The Benin Arsenal have managed just one goal in their last three outings in the league.
Insurance have picked two wins, one draw and one loss in four matches played in the NPFL, and must be at their best if they're to beat Remo Stars who have looked to be a strong contender for the title this season.
On the other hand, Daniel Ogunmodede's Remo Stars have strung three straight wins in the league, the only side to have achieved such a feat so far this season.
Remo Stars recently thrashed Sunshine Stars 3-0 in the Western derby where striker Sikiru Alimi bagged a brace to send the last season's league runners-up to the summit of the table.
🌟 🌟🌟
Sikiru Alimi. Oh! What a player!
The striker gets his brace meeting a dropped ball by Sodiq Ismail.
|63| 🌟 3-0⚪️ #REMSHO | #NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/OT7QLSdgEr
— Remo Stars Sports Club (@RemoStarsSC) November 1, 2023
The Sky Blue Stars have now recorded four wins and one loss after five matches, and will fancy their chances of picking their second away victory as they take on Adigie's Insurance at the Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday evening.
Ahead of kick-off, Bendel Insurance are ranked 13th on the table after four league games, while Remo Stars are impressively top of the standings after five games. Both teams have two and one outstanding games respectively.
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars probable lineups
Bendel Insurance
The Benin side have no new injury concerns and this will be a welcome boost for Adigie who is working to bring the team back to continental position on the league table.
After his Man of the Match performance against Akwa United last time out, Tamara Ezekiel should retain his place in the middle of the pack.
Amas Obasogie should start in goal, while Benjamin Tanimu and Paul Obata bear the weight of goal creation.
Probable lineups for Bendel Insurance: Obasogie (GK); Okorom, Emiloju, Anyanwu, Tanimu, Ezekiel, Ogbonda, Ayuba, Obata, Augustus, Jude.
Remo Stars
Kayode Bankole who was the safest hands in the league last season will be in goal, he recently got his first clean sheet of the current campaign.
Defensive midfielder Abayomi Adebayo is recovering from a knee injury and is expected to be out of this game.
Meanwhile Sikiru Alimi has started the season on fire for Remo Stars, he bagged a double in the 3-0 win over Shooting Stars last time out, he should lead the attack alongside Frank Mawuena in an unchanged starting XI from the last game.
Probable lineups for Remo Stars: Bankole (GK); Akinyele, Nduka, Joseph, Ismail; Fatokun, Ogunribede, Adedayo, Ojo; Alimi, Mawuena.
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars confirmed lineups
*Lineups will be automatically updated shortly after they're released
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars Head-to-Head
Bendel Insurance has squared off against Remo Stars on 10 previous occasions. In that stretch, Insurance have won 3 matches, Remo Stars won 2 matches, while 5 matches were drawn.
Both teams last faced each other in the 2022/22 NPFL Championship Playoffs in June where Remo Stars defeated Insurance 1-0.
Here are the results of their last five matches:
- 11/06/23 – Remo Stars 1-0 Bendel Insurance
- 16/04/23 – Remo Stars 1-1 Bendel Insurance
- 28/01/23 – Bendel Insurance 3-0 Remo Stars
- 12/09/21 – Remo Stars 2-2 Bendel Insurance
- 06/06/21 – Remo Stars 0-0 Bendel Insurance
Where to watch Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars live
Insurance and Remo Stars fans are looking forward to watching their clubs take to the field in this crucial Nigeria Professional Football League fixture.
The match will be broadcast live on the NPFL Live App for those with a subscription. Kick-off is 4 pm on Sunday evening.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
