Nurudeen Aweroro, head coach of Shooting Stars, expressed satisfaction with his side’s 1–1 draw against Bendel Insurance in their NPFL matchday two fixture at the Samuel Ogbemudia in Benin City. The draw marks the club’s first point of the season.
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Shooting Stars took the lead early through Ayodele Ismail in the fifth minute, but Insurance responded swiftly, with Alex Oweilayefa restoring parity just eight minutes later.
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Reflecting on the result, Aweroro said, "It was a tough match with tough challenges, but very rewarding. It started with high intensity and ended with high intensity. I thank both teams for their effort, but I’m especially happy with my boys because we gave everything, and this result will motivate us going forward." He also praised Bendel Insurance’s physicality and vowed to build on the confidence from this performance as they push for their first win.
Editorial
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We recognise that Aweroro’s measured reaction is more than just a positive spin it speaks to a leadership focused on momentum and resilience. After a disappointing opening-day loss, securing a point away against a tough opponent provides a foundation to build upon.
We feel that Bendel Insurance’s physical edge tested Shooting Stars purposefully, yet the visitors showed mental fortitude to withstand pressure and emerge unbeaten. This draw suggests that the squad's resolve may be more valuable than immediate results.
We believe that the match’s high-intensity nature, from start to finish, demonstrates the league’s competitiveness. For Shooting Stars, converting such performances into consistent outcomes remains the challenge but one they now know they can meet.
We expect that this point will energise the dressing room. If the belief from this draw endures, it may just be the spark needed to shift fortunes in the fixtures ahead.
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Did You Know?
Shooting Stars claimed their first point of the 2025–26 season with this draw, following a 1–0 defeat to Bayelsa United in matchday one.
Shooting Stars are one of the NPFL’s [founding](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/category/football-tactics-and-analysis/) clubs and have never been relegated since the league’s inception.
Bendel Insurance, nicknamed "The Vipers" or "The Benin Arsenal," play their home matches at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, which seats approximately 12,000 fans.
In the opening minutes alone, the game produced a goal every 3.5 minutes a testament to both teams’ early attacking intent.
While the result gives Shooting Stars a confidence boost, their next match sees them return home to host Ikorodu City in Ibadan a crucial chance to secure the win Aweroro spoke of.