Nasarawa United technical adviser Mbwas Mangut has officially shifted his team’s focus toward their upcoming home clash against Bendel Insurance after a narrow defeat ended their impressive run of form. The “Solid Miners” traveled to the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium last Sunday for a Matchday 26 encounter, where a late strike from Boubacar Massally secured a 1-0 victory for Katsina United. This result successfully halted Nasarawa’s five-game unbeaten streak, but Mangut remains adamant that his squad possesses the resilience to mount a swift recovery and climb back to the apex of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table.
The challenge ahead remains significant, as the visiting Bendel Insurance side arrives at the Lafia City Stadium this weekend with one of the most disciplined defensive records in the division. The Benin-based “Benin Arsenals” have proved remarkably difficult to break down, suffering only a single defeat in their previous 14 league outings. Despite the formidable opposition, Mangut has instructed his players to regroup and capitalize on their home advantage to close the gap on current leaders Ikorodu City and Enugu Rangers.
“We remain focused on our set goals, and we will regroup to reclaim our top-of-the-table status in our subsequent games,” Mangut told Nasarawa United’s media team during a post-match briefing.
Nasarawa United currently occupies the fourth position in the standings, having accumulated 41 points from 26 matches in what has become a tightly contested 2025/26 campaign. Mangut, who took the reins earlier this season with a clear mandate to return the club to continental football, emphasized that setbacks are inevitable in a long marathon. He intends to utilize the training sessions this week to rectify the defensive lapses and finishing issues that plagued the team during their recent trip to Katsina.
With the second half of the season intensifying, every point at the Lafia City Stadium carries immense weight for the club’s title ambitions. The coaching staff expects a high-intensity performance from the fourth-placed side to reassure supporters that the recent loss was merely a temporary hurdle. As the NPFL enters its final stretch, the Solid Miners aim to demonstrate the consistency that initially propelled them into the championship conversation.
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