Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Group A table toppers Bendel Insurance were on Saturday held to a 1-1 draw by Kwara United but Dakkada FC ended an unpleasant winless run with a 1-0 win over Doma United.
Insurance, coached by Monday Odigie were hoping to end a run of three consecutive 1-1 draws at the start of the second stanza of the 2022/2023 season when they hosted Kwara United at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City but it was not to be.
The hosts were stunned in the 68th minute when Alao Mohammed smashed home a free kick from 25 yards. Insurance however replied in the 79th minute through Deputy Echeta but the Harmony Warriors stood firm to ward off any other threats by Insurance.
The result meant that Insurance remain unbeaten this season after thirteen matches but having played a match more, they are now five points clear of the chasing pack after dropping eight points in their last four matches.
In Group B, Dakkada FC ended a run of four matches without a win after a Mmekutmfon Udosen goal handed them a 1-0 win over Doma United and some ray of hope in their battle against relegation.
The young forward pounced on a rebound in the 59th minute after Doma goalkeeper Kingdom Osayi had palmed a long range effort into a good scoring position.
The win lifted Dakkada off the foot of the Group B table and takes them to within two points of safety with five matches left in the regular season.
The remaining Match Day 13 matches will be decided on Sunday with four matches each in Groups A and B.
Sunday’s Fixtures
Group A
Enyimba vs Plateau United
Akwa United vs Nasarawa United
Shooting Stars vs Remo Stars
Gombe United vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Group B
Lobi Stars vs Abia Warriors
Wikki Tourists vs Bayelsa United
Niger Tornadoes vs Rivers United
Sunshine Stars vs Rangers International