Bendel Insurance FC Striker Alex Oweilayefa has been rewarded for his hard work and God given talent as he received League Bloggers Award as the best Nigeria Premier Football League’s Young Player of the 2025/26 Season.
The 19-year-old Alex Oweilayefa was announced as the winner of the award at the Bloggers Award ceremony on Wednesday, night at Cordis Hotel Classic in Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.
The Benin Arsenals young striker capping earned the sports media award following his impressive debut campaign in the Nigeria Premier Football League for the Benin-based club, scoring 10 NPFL goals and 5 FA Cup goals.
Oweilayefa joined Bendel Insurance from grassroots team OYC Football Academy in Warri, Delta State, and made an immediate impact in his first NPFL season. He was voted most valuable player by Edo FA following his performance in the state Federation Cup which Insurance won.
He featured in 20 league matches and scored 10 goals with one hattrick which put him ahead of other strong challengers in the strong shortlist to claim the award, which includes Douglas Iyonuwa (Rivers United), Chimaobi Igwillo (Rangers International), Musa Malik (Ikorodu City), Adeoye Aderemi (Ikorodu City) and Mmesoma Nnorom (Kun Khalifat FC).
Receiving the award at the Cordis Hotel Classic at Alausa,Ikeja in ,Lagos on Wednesday night, Alex Oweileyefa expressed appreciation for the recognition, saying that the award will spur him to do more.
He acknowledged and appreciates the role of Coache Greg Ikhenoba who brought him from the crude stage of OYC of academy football to the NPFL.
He also thanked coach Kennedy Boboye and the entire technical crew for their confidence in him and support. He specifically appreciated the Executive chairman, Edo State Sports Commission Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele for the encouragement and fatherly support. His teammates and fans of the Benin Arsenals are not left out in his message of appreciation.
“I feel so great. I am excited .All thanks to God, my family, my coaches and my chairman. I appreciate him for everything. This is my first NPFL season, and I’m grateful to God.”
“I’m someone who puts my mind, strength and everything into whatever I want to do. So, I was not afraid when I was given the chance to play against the big boys,” he said.
“When I see people play, I always believe I can also play and that helped me in the season.”
Alex recently signed three years contract extension with Bendel Insurance shortly before the end of the 2025/26 Season.