By the livescore24.ng/ Editorial Team | Published: May 13, 2026 | NPFL Match Preview
The final day of the 2025/2026 NPFL season arrives on Sunday, 24 May 2026, and while the title race between Enugu Rangers and Rivers United dominates the headlines, Bendel Insurance FC have their own story to close out. The Benin Arsenals host defending champions Remo Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City — a game loaded with local pride, end-of-season atmosphere, and several clear angles worth knowing about before you bet.
This preview covers team news, head-to-head history, form, what both sides are playing for, and our prediction backed by verified match data from the 2025/2026 season.
Match Details
|
Fixture |
Bendel Insurance FC vs Remo Stars FC |
|
Date |
Sunday, 24 May 2026 |
|
Kickoff |
4:00 PM (simultaneous NPFL final-day kickoff) |
|
Venue |
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City |
|
Competition |
NPFL Matchday 38 |
What Is at Stake
Bendel Insurance head into the final day 7th in the NPFL table with 52 points. They are safe from relegation and cannot break into the top four continental qualification spots, so this match is about finishing the season well in front of their home crowd. Coach Charles Omokaro will want to sign off the campaign on a positive note after a difficult second half to the season.
Their most painful moment came on Matchday 37, when a 2-1 defeat at Enugu Rangers was sealed by a penalty the NFF subsequently ruled as incorrectly awarded — leading to referee Yakubu Adamu\’s indefinite suspension. The result stood, but the controversy left a bitter taste in Benin City. A strong home performance against Remo Stars is the best way to move on.
Remo Stars arrive as defending champions who have endured a miserable title defence, sitting 15th in the table. They are safe from relegation and have nothing meaningful to play for. The long trip to Benin City, combined with the absence of any competitive pressure, makes them the very definition of an unmotivated visitor.
Recent Form
|
Team |
Last 5 Results |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bendel Insurance |
W D W L W |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
|
Remo Stars |
W L D W L |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
Bendel Insurance are in better form coming into this fixture. Despite the narrow Matchday 37 defeat in Enugu — a game they arguably deserved something from — midfielder A. Oweilaiyefa scored a superb free kick to equalise before the disputed penalty settled it. Their home performances this season have been consistently organised and difficult to break down, with 41 goals scored and only 35 conceded across 37 games.
Remo Stars bounced back with a 2-1 win over Bayelsa United on Matchday 37 through Victor Mbaoma, but their overall second-half-of-season form has been poor. The defending champions finish the 2025/2026 campaign roughly 20 points below where their status demands.
Team News
Bendel Insurance
-
Out: Promise Itoro (fracture — confirmed absent, 25 appearances this season)
-
Available: A. Oweilaiyefa fit and expected to start; a set-piece threat from any distance
-
Coach Omokaro likely to set up compactly, looking to be solid defensively and clinical from dead balls and transitions
Remo Stars
-
No significant injury concerns reported ahead of the final day
-
Victor Mbaoma (11 goals) will start and push for goals in the Golden Boot race — he trails leaders Joseph Arumala and Godwin Obaje by one goal heading into the final day
-
Manager likely to rotate with nothing at stake, giving fringe players final-day minutes
Official lineups will be confirmed approximately one hour before kickoff. Follow livescore24.ng/ for confirmed team sheets and live match updates on the day.
Head-to-Head Record
|
Date |
Competition |
Home |
Score |
Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dec 2025 |
NPFL 2025/26 |
Remo Stars |
0 – 1 |
Bendel Insurance (W) |
|
May 2025 |
NPFL 2024/25 |
Remo Stars |
2 – 0 |
Bendel Insurance |
|
Nov 2024 |
NPFL 2024/25 |
Bendel Insurance |
1 – 1 |
Remo Stars |
|
Apr 2024 |
NPFL 2023/24 |
Remo Stars |
3 – 0 |
Bendel Insurance |
|
Nov 2023 |
NPFL 2023/24 |
Bendel Insurance |
1 – 0 |
Remo Stars |
The H2H record is broadly even across recent seasons. The key data point for this fixture is the reverse leg this season — Bendel Insurance won 1-0 away at Ikenne in December 2025, showing they can get results against Remo Stars even on the road. At home, they will fancy their chances even more.
Match Analysis
Motivation Gap
This is the most important factor in our prediction. Bendel Insurance are at home and want to end the season on a high in front of their Benin City supporters. Remo Stars are travelling to a hostile ground with nothing to play for. In the NPFL, home sides with genuine motivation against dead-rubber visiting sides have a significant statistical advantage, particularly in the final weeks of the season when travel fatigue and low collective intensity compound the issue.
Set Pieces
Oweilaiyefa\’s free kick against Enugu Rangers was a reminder of Bendel Insurance\’s danger from dead balls. In a match where open-play chances may be limited, set pieces could be the decisive factor. Remo Stars\’ defensive shape — particularly with likely rotation — may not be at its most disciplined on a long away trip in a dead rubber.
Victor Mbaoma\’s Personal Ambition
With 11 goals, Mbaoma is one behind the Golden Boot leaders and will push hard for goals. This means Remo Stars will attack with some purpose, reducing the risk of a completely passive performance. However, it also means they will commit men forward, creating space on the counter for Bendel Insurance to exploit behind the Remo Stars full-backs.
Prediction and Betting Tips
Our Prediction: Bendel Insurance Win — 1-0
Home advantage, a clear motivation edge, better recent form, and a Remo Stars side with nothing to play for collectively all point to a Bendel Insurance home win. We expect it to be narrow and defensively tight.
|
Market |
Pick |
Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
|
Match Result (1X2) |
Bendel Insurance Win |
Home motivation vs dead-rubber visitors; stronger recent form at home |
|
Both Teams to Score |
No |
Bendel defensively solid at home; Remo Stars unlikely to press hard collectively |
|
Total Goals |
Under 2.5 |
Tight, low-scoring dynamic expected; Bendel home record is compact |
|
Correct Score |
1-0 Bendel Insurance |
Narrow home wins have been Bendel\’s pattern this season |
|
Anytime Scorer |
A. Oweilaiyefa |
In-form set-piece specialist; free-kick threat whenever Bendel win fouls in wide areas |
For more NPFL final-day tips, see our predictions page. If you are building an accumulator, our NPFL 3-fold accumulator tips and guide to accumulator betting in Nigeria will help you structure your slip. For goals-market analysis, read our over 2.5 goals NPFL tips. For BTTS picks and strategy, our BTTS tips and strategy guide is the most comprehensive resource available for Nigerian bettors.
About Bendel Insurance FC
Bendel Insurance FC — the Benin Arsenals — are one of the oldest and most historically significant clubs in Nigerian football. Founded in 1973 in Benin City, Edo State, the club was established as the football arm of the Bendel State Insurance Company. According to Wikipedia, they were a dominant force in Nigerian domestic football during the late 1970s and 1980s, contributing players to national teams across multiple generations.
Their home ground, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, holds 12,000 supporters and regularly generates one of the most intense atmospheres in the NPFL. The Benin City fanbase is among the largest and most passionate in Nigerian domestic football, and a home fixture on the final day of the season always draws a full house.
The 2025/2026 season has been a mixed campaign — stretches of genuine quality, particularly in the first half, raised hopes of continental qualification, but injuries (most notably defender Promise Itoro\’s fracture), a run of away defeats, and the controversial Matchday 37 refereeing decision ultimately cost them. They finish 7th with 52 points — a respectable season, but one where the coaching staff will know an opportunity to finish higher was missed.
More NPFL Final Day Predictions
Bendel Insurance vs Remo Stars is one of ten simultaneous Matchday 38 kickoffs on May 24, 2026. The title race between Enugu Rangers (65 pts, away at Ikorodu City) and Rivers United (64 pts, hosting Katsina United) is the headline act. For predictions on all final-day fixtures, visit our predictions page. For Super Eagles tips, see our Nigeria vs Zimbabwe prediction and tips.
Bet responsibly. Predictions are for informational purposes only and do not guarantee outcomes. Read our responsible gambling policy before placing any bets.
livescore24.ng/ Editorial Team — This preview was produced using verified match data, confirmed team news, and in-depth knowledge of the 2025/2026 NPFL season. Visit our About page to learn more. Have questions? See our FAQ.