Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Joshua Baba has returned to the club after weeks of unexplained absence, resurfacing in Lagos on the eve of the team’s Matchday 8 clash against Sporting Lagos in the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The club confirmed Baba’s return in a press statement, revealing that the goalkeeper joined his teammates at their hotel in Lagos ahead of Wednesday’s encounter.

Baba was previously declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) by the Benin Arsenal after failing to report for duty following the expiration of an approved recovery period.

The goalkeeper sustained a knock during Bendel Insurance’s league encounter against Warri Wolves in Benin City on August 30, 2026, and was subsequently granted two weeks to recover from the injury.

He later travelled to Plateau State to visit his family and was expected to return to training in mid-September. However, he failed to meet the deadline and remained away from the team without notifying the club, until his unexpected appearance in Lagos.

Bendel Insurance stressed that Baba remains under contract with the club until the end of 2027 and is therefore bound by the obligations outlined in his contract and the regulations governing professional football in Nigeria.

The club added that appropriate disciplinary and administrative measures would be taken in line with his contractual obligations and the relevant rules of the NPFL and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Meanwhile, the management expressed appreciation to members of the media and other stakeholders who supported efforts to address the situation following its earlier announcement declaring the goalkeeper AWOL.