Bendel Insurance vs Barau FC 4-1: NPFL Matchday 7 Report

Bendel Insurance vs Barau FC finished 4-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Sunday, 4 October 2026. Kayode Oke scored twice as Bendel ended the visitors’ six-game unbeaten start to the NPFL season. The win lifted Bendel to fifth, level on points with Barau, who had gone top of the table on 23 September.

What was the score in Bendel Insurance vs Barau FC?

Bendel Insurance beat Barau FC 4-1 on Sunday, 4 October 2026, with a 4pm WAT kick-off. Oke scored twice, and Suraju Lawal and Jonathan James also scored. Here are the goals.

• 33′: Kayode Oke (Bendel Insurance), 1-0.
• About 78′: Kayode Oke (Bendel Insurance), 2-0.
• About 82′: Aliyu Sugau (Barau FC), penalty, 2-1.
• About 86′: Suraju Lawal (Bendel Insurance), 3-1.
• 90+4′: Jonathan James (Bendel Insurance), 4-1.

However, sources differ on the second-half minutes. Four reports give the times above, but two others place Oke’s second goal and the penalty about ten minutes earlier. Either way, Barau’s penalty came between Oke’s second and Lawal’s goal, and Barau never found a way back after that.

What were the key moments?

The key moment was Oke’s second goal, because it broke a tight game open. Bendel dominated at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, so the Africatopsports round-up credits Oke with two goals either side of Barau’s penalty. Sugau converted from the spot to cut the deficit. However, late goals from Lawal and James sealed the result.

Bendel also lost a player early. Defender Dennis Chigozie went off injured after nine minutes, and coach Kennedy Boboye was unhappy to lose him, according to Blueprint. Bendel made three changes at 66 minutes, and Lawal was one of the players who came on. Blueprint credits substitute Fatai Abdullahi with the pass for Lawal’s goal.

Barau coach Eugene Agagbe accepted the result afterwards. He said, “We lost to a very good team”, and added, “I must admit that they played better today.” He also said Bendel showed strong character and looked better than last season. Bendel’s own message on social media was short: “FOUR. ONE. DONE.”

How have Bendel Insurance started the season?

Bendel have won four and lost three of their seven games, while they have scored 13 goals. They beat Warri Wolves 2-1 on the opening day and Kun Khalifat 4-2 at home. They also beat Ikorodu City 2-1. However, they lost 1-0 at Nasarawa United, 2-1 at Ranchers Bees and 3-0 at Abia Warriors on 27 September.

That Abia defeat was their heaviest of the season, so the response mattered. Bendel finished fifth last season on 56 points. Boboye said in July that his side must do better than that, and the club has set a top-three target, according to Voice of Nigeria. This win keeps that target alive. Our Bendel Insurance team hub tells the full story of the club.

How have Barau FC started the season?

Barau had been one of the best starters in the league, but this game changed that. They won three, drew three and lost none in their first six. They beat Nasarawa United 3-1 and Ranchers Bees 3-1, drew 0-0 at Kun Khalifat and Ikorodu City, and beat Abia Warriors 2-0 at home. Then they drew 1-1 at Sporting Lagos on 26 September, which left them on 12 points. Blueprint reported that they had gone top of the table on 23 September.

Barau were in their first NPFL season last year, yet they finished eighth. The club is owned by Senator Barau Jibrin. This was their first league defeat of 2026/27, so it stings, but the table is still tight. See the Barau FC team hub for the club background.

What does the result mean in the NPFL table?

Barau FC are 4th and Bendel Insurance are 5th, and both clubs have 12 points from seven games. Barau have a goal difference of +3, while Bendel have +2. Rangers lead the table on 16 points, and Rivers United are second on 15. So the top five is close, and one more win could move either side into the top three. See the live NPFL table and standings for the latest positions.

What does the head-to-head say about Bendel Insurance vs Barau FC?

The two sides drew both league games last season. Barau and Bendel drew 1-1 in September 2025, and the return game in Benin City ended 0-0 in January 2026. So this 4-1 win is Bendel’s first league win in the fixture, and it is a big step up on those two draws.

Who do Bendel Insurance and Barau FC play next?

Bendel Insurance visit Sporting Lagos on Sunday, 11 October, at 4pm WAT, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. Barau FC host leaders Rangers on the same day and at the same time (our Barau FC vs Rangers prediction). That is a hard game for a side that has just lost, but Barau have lost only once this season.

For more on both clubs, see the Bendel Insurance team hub and the Barau FC team hub. Every score from the round is in our NPFL Matchday 7 results round-up. The full season is on our NPFL results page. The previous round is in our NPFL Matchday 6 results round-up.

Bendel Insurance vs Barau FC: FAQ