Bendel Insurance striker Kayode Oke has written his name into the early records of the 2026/27 EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season after scoring the fastest goal of the campaign so far, finding the back of the net just 18 seconds into his team’s Matchday 8 encounter against Sporting Lagos.
Sports247 reports that despite the remarkable individual achievement, Oke’s early breakthrough was not enough to prevent Bendel Insurance from suffering a 2-1 defeat at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The forward wasted no time making his presence felt, producing a lightning-fast start that caught the Sporting Lagos defence off guard and handed the visitors an immediate advantage.
His strike, coming before the first minute had elapsed, set the tone for an entertaining contest and established a new benchmark for the fastest goal recorded in the league this season.
For Oke, the moment represented a significant personal milestone, highlighting his alertness and ability to capitalise on an early attacking opportunity.
However, Sporting Lagos refused to allow the early setback to dictate the outcome of the encounter, responding with determination to overturn the deficit.
Victor Samuel restored parity for the Lagos-based side before Gafar Olaniyan completed the comeback, scoring the decisive goal that secured maximum points for the hosts.
The two goals ensured that Sporting Lagos recovered from their difficult start to claim a valuable home victory, leaving Bendel Insurance disappointed despite making an explosive opening to the contest.
The result also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the EuroMatch NPFL, where an early advantage does not necessarily guarantee success.
While Sporting Lagos celebrated an important comeback victory, Oke’s extraordinary goal remained one of the major talking points from Matchday 8.
Scoring after just 18 seconds requires sharp anticipation, quick decision-making and clinical execution, qualities the Bendel Insurance striker demonstrated in the opening moments.
Although his team could not protect the advantage, the achievement gives Oke a place in the season’s early statistical highlights and provides another memorable moment in his individual campaign.
For Sporting Lagos, the victory represents a positive result as they continue their efforts to build momentum in the league, while Bendel Insurance will be looking to recover from the disappointment of surrendering an early lead.
Ultimately, the afternoon belonged to Sporting Lagos in terms of the result, but Kayode Oke’s 18-second strike ensured that Bendel Insurance also left a lasting mark on the Matchday 8 headlines.
