Bendel Insurance FC have issued a formal apology to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) following the controversial incidents that occurred during their Matchday 32 clash against Plateau United on March 28 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
In a statement released by the club’s management, the Benin City side expressed regret over the incidence of that day and strongly condemned the conduct of their head coach, Kennedy Boboye, describing his actions as “ugly and unfortunate.”
After reviewing the situation, the club confirmed that disciplinary measures have been taken internally, including issuing a stern warning to Boboye and his coaching crew. The management emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated, reiterating their commitment to discipline and professionalism.
The statement further advised players, coaches, and club officials to avoid engaging in heated confrontations with match officials in the future, noting that such actions could attract severe sanctions from league authorities.
As part of the consequences stemming from the incident, Bendel Insurance will play their next three home matches behind closed doors. The club’s upcoming fixture against Abia Warriors will therefore take place without fans in attendance, and supporters have been urged to stay away from the stadium.
The club reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the rules and values of the league while working to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
