Nasarawa United tightened their grip on first place in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Saturday.

The Solid Miners left it late, as Mohammed Garba netted the winner in the 93rd minute to stun the home fans and extend his side’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

The result was a bitter setback for the Benin Arsenal, who had fought hard throughout the contest but fell short of earning a point. With the win, coach Salisu Yusuf’s Nasarawa United now sit on 16 points from seven matches—six of which they remain unbeaten—solidifying their status as early title contenders.

Bendel Insurance’s struggles continued, however, with just six points from six games and only one win in their last six outings. Missing suspended full-back Henry Onyia, coach Greg Ikhenoba’s men now face mounting pressure to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere in Maiduguri, El-Kanemi Warriors bounced back strongly from their defeat to Plateau United, securing a 2-1 victory over Kano Pillars.

Daddy Abdulrahman was the star of the show, scoring twice in the second half—first in the 62nd minute and again in the 81st—to hand the Zulum Boys control. Kano Pillars attempted a late fightback as Suleiman Idris pulled one back in the 89th minute, but El-Kanemi held firm to claim all three points.

The win moves El-Kanemi up to eight points from seven games, offering a boost in their search for consistency. For Kano Pillars, the loss was a setback after celebrating their first victory of the season last week, leaving them stuck in the lower half of the table.