• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

The ongoing 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season has been fiercely competitive. By early 2026, some clubs with rich histories found themselves flirting with relegation or mid-table stagnation, prompting decisive managerial interventions. Among the clubs caught in the relegation storm earlier in the season were Plateau United, champions of the 2017 NPFL season, who slumped into the lower reaches of the table after a disastrous first half of the campaign. Bendel Insurance, two-time league winners in 1973 and 1979 and one of Nigeria's most storied clubs, also endured a torrid run of results that dragged them dangerously close to the drop zone, much to the dismay of their passionate Benin City fanbase. Completing the trio was Barau FC, a freshly promoted side from Kano, privately owned by the Deputy Senate President (DSP) Senator Jibrin I. Barau, which struggled to cope with the intensity, pace, and physical demands of top-flight football following their historic NPFL promotion via the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs. In a league where relegation carries severe financial, institutional, and reputational consequences, the three clubs turned to vastly experienced coaches to halt the slide and script survival narratives. The men they entrusted with that task, Kennedy Boboye, Gbenga Ogunbote, and Eugene Agagbe, come from different coaching backgrounds but share a common reputation which is stabilising teams at their lowest ebb, restoring discipline and belief, and delivering results under intense pressure, often when top-flight survival is on the line. Although the profile of Agagbe, a former coach of Lobi Stars, does not match those of the other two coaches, with his recent results, he has 'washed his hands clean enough' to dine with them. Weekend Trust Sports makes an in-depth analysis of the trio upon whose shoulders the fate and survival of Plateau United, Barau FC, and Bendel Insurance is resting this season. The 52-year-old 'revivalist' is the most high-profile of the trio, a coach with two NPFL titles to his name and a well-established pedigree across multiple clubs. In October 2025, Bendel Insurance announced Boboye as Technical Manager after the club slipped into lower league positions following a poor start to the season. Boboye replaced Greg Ikhenoba, who was suspended amid disappointing results. Boboye's appointment was universally described by club officials as strategic as they needed a tactician with NPFL success, adaptability, and leadership acumen. Boboye's résumé -- including NPFL titles with Plateau United (2017) and Akwa United (2021), and managerial stints with Sunshine Stars, Abia Warriors, Remo Stars, and Heartland FC -- underscored his capability to restore confidence, professionalism, and competitive performance. Since his unveiling, Kennedy Boboye has imposed clearer tactical structure, strengthened team cohesion, and delivered more competitive performances in a league where Bendel Insurance had previously struggled to accumulate points. In the weeks following his takeover, the 'Benin Arsenal' ground out crucial draws and wins that steadied their campaign, lifted them away from the relegation mire, and restored belief within the camp. Beyond results, Boboye's vast experience has reshaped the club's internal culture, with players showing sharper tactical awareness and a stronger collective understanding of game management. His insistence on competitive discipline which is a defining trait of his coaching philosophy has produced a far more resilient Bendel Insurance side. From a run of just one win in 10 matches before his arrival, the Benin-based club has surged to sixth place on the table with 41 points, underlining the scale of the turnaround under Boboye's stewardship. The 55-year-old 'tactical fixer' popularly called the 'oracle' by his teeming fans, assumed the role of Technical Adviser at Plateau United in January 2026, in a strategic mid-season hire designed to combat severe relegation threats. Prior to his appointment, Plateau United's season was marked by inconsistency: a string of losses, defensive vulnerabilities, and disillusioned fans at New Jos Stadium. After 19 matches, the club was rooted to the bottom of the standings, with only six wins, one draw, and twelve defeats, a disappointing tally that placed them deep in relegation danger. The club management opted to part ways with then-coach Shola Ayegun, citing a loss of form and momentum. In his place, they sought a tactician with experience navigating difficult NPFL campaigns. Ogunbote, a seasoned domestic coach with stints at Sunshine Stars, Rangers International, Remo Stars, Lobi Stars, and Shooting Stars among others, fit the profile. Upon his arrival, his work was already cut out as the mandate was clear which was to stabilise the team, tighten the defence, and build confidence among players and supporters alike. His approach emphasised tactical organization and a pragmatic playing style designed to extract results from tight matches. With Ogunbote at the helm, Plateau United's season became a battle for survival and the early indication suggested a team more organised, harder to beat, and tactically disciplined. Coach Ogunbote had masterminded Plateau United's six-games unbeaten run before the week 26 defeat at El-Kanemi Warriors. At the time of this press, the Jos based club are placed 12th on the table with 36 points. However, its not uhuru yet as any slip ups can send them back to the relegation waters. Eugene Agagbe's path is slightly different. Unlike Plateau United and Bendel Insurance, Barau FC were not battling the weight of decline from past glory. Their struggles were instead the inevitable growing pains of a newly promoted side learning to survive within the unforgiving culture of Nigeria's top flight. Based in Kano, Barau FC entered the NPFL on the back of consecutive promotions, earning a high-profile arrival into elite Nigerian football. However, the step up proved demanding. The tactical sophistication, physical intensity, and week-to-week pressure of the league quickly tested the club, with early-season results placing them uncomfortably close to relegation danger. Agagbe's appointment marked a turning point. His arrival coincided with a broader internal restructuring, notably the appointment of former Nigerian international and seasoned administrator, Dominic Iorfa, as General Manager. On the pitch, Agagbe delivered measurable progress. Under his stewardship, Barau FC embarked on an impressive unbeaten run, including stretches of seven matches without defeat which is a notable achievement in the NPFL's fiercely competitive mid-table battles. That consistency has propelled the club to 10th place on the standings with 37 points, easing relegation fears and redefining expectations for a debutant side. Source: https://dailytrust.com/insurance-barau-fc-plateau-utd-rescued-by-football-magicians/