EUROMATCH–NPFL: Boboye Laments Lack Of Quality Strikers In Domestic League

Bendel Insurance head coach, Kennedy Boboye, has identified the shortage of quality strikers as one of the major problems affecting the Nigerian domestic football league, Completesports.com reports.

The Bendel Insurance gaffer made the assertion on Wednesday in Benin after the Benin Arsenals edged Ikorodu City 2-1 in a Matchday 5 fixture of the 2026/2027 EuroMatch–NPFL season.

Bendel Insurance Bag Nervy Win vs Ikorodu City

After a goalless first half, right winger Chinedu Nwosu handed the home side the lead in the 49th minute. However, Farouk Salami restored parity for the visitors in the 70th minute.

Also Read: Euromatch NPFL: Atune Unruffled By Bendel Insurance’s Defeat To Ranchers Bees

It looked like the visitors would share the spoils in the feisty encounter until Alex Oweilayefa struck the eventual match-winner seven minutes before the final whistle.

The victory moved the Boboye-led side up to fourth position on the standings with nine points. Newly promoted Barau FC lead the table with 11 points, while Rangers and Doma United occupy second and third positions respectively, with 10 points each.

Boboye: ‘We Don’t Have Quality Strikers’

Responding to reporters’ questions about how to address Bendel Insurance’s goalscoring problems, after the Benin Arsenals recorded 20 shots, nine of which were on target, Boboye promised to continue working hard in that area but revealed that the dearth of quality strikers was not peculiar to Bendel Insurance, but a general problem in the Nigerian domestic league.

“Yeah, we still keep working because it’s (converting scoring chances) something we do every day,” the 52-year-old Boboye began. “(Taking our) goal-scoring opportunities in games—we do them in training sessions.

“But when it comes to games like this, if we don’t take them, it becomes a problem for us. Actually, it’s a problem everywhere in the country because, I’m sorry to say this, we don’t actually have quality strikers in the league.

Also Read: Euromatch–NPFL: Obasogie Delighted With Winning Return For Bendel Insurance Against Kun Khalifat

“We (coaches) are just managing. Most of the strikers you see playing for Bendel Insurance are not point men. They are players who play from the sides, but we decided to convert them (to attackers) just to make up for the team.

“But we won’t stop working, that’s a promise.”

Boboye Targets Three Points Against Abia Warriors

The former Heartland, Sunshine Stars, Plateau United and Akwa United gaffer disclosed that he is looking forward to taking all three points from struggling Abia Warriors in this weekend’s Matchday 6 clash in Aba.

“We’ll go there and target the three points. The stadium we’re going to play the match is good. We will go there and make sure that we collect the three points,” Boboye concluded confidently.