Bendel Insurance on final day of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL maintained their dignity and pride as they came from behind to score a late equalizer to share the spoils with relegation threatened Remo Stars in Benin.
The Benin Arsenals, though were not at their best,but fought hard to cancel the SkyBlue Boys first half goal lead in the extra time.
Victor Mbaoma had put the desperate visitors in front 45+3rd minutes with just a minute to end of first half ,raising the hope of survival for the defending Champions.
Substitute Chijioke Akuneto came to the rescue of the Benin Arsenals a minute to the final whistle when he turned inside the box to find the right corner of the net with unstoppable short to end the tensed game at 1-1.
Recall Insurance FC defeated Remo Stars 3-2 in their first round meeting in Abeokuta and the SkyBlue Boys came to Benin on the last day of the league with the mindset of getting their pound of flesh back but Chijioke Akuneto stopped them from achieving their target.
Bendel Insurance FC however retained the fifth position they also finished last season with 56 points. And the Benin Arsenals have also served out their three match closed doors punishment.
Meanwhile,the curtains have been drawn on the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) 2025/26 season with Rangers International of Enugu being crowned champions after beating Ikorodu City 2-1 in Lagos to finish tops with 68 points while Rivers maintained the second position to the end with a 3-0 thrashing of Katsina Utd in Port Harcourt to finish with 67 points.
Shooting Stars finished 3rd on the table with 60 points as Ikorodu City settled for 4th place with 58 points,2 points ahead of the fifth placed Benin Arsenals.
Remo Stars,El-Kanemi Warriors,Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa Utd went down to the second division.