Bendel Insurance report goalkeeper Joshua Baba absent without leave

Bendel Insurance have declared goalkeeper Joshua Baba absent without official leave (AWOL) after failing to return from an authorised period of recovery.

The Benin Arsenal said Baba was last seen on 29 August, when he featured in the club’s opening fixture of the season against Warri Wolves. The club issued a statement on Thursday, signed by its Director of Media and Communications, Kehinde Osagiede, and made available to Completesports.com.

Baba reportedly suffered a knock during the match and was subsequently given permission by the club’s management to return to his family and recover from the injury.

Insurance said the goalkeeper was granted two weeks to recover before travelling to Plateau State, where his family is based. He was expected to resume training and report back to the club in mid-September 2026.

However, the club said Baba did not return when the approved period ended and has since been unreachable.

“Following the injury, the player was granted a two-week recovery period and subsequently travelled to Plateau State to visit his family. He was expected to resume training and report back to the club in mid-September 2026.

“However, despite the expiration of the approved leave period, Joshua Baba has failed to report to the club and has remained absent without authorization.

“The club has made repeated efforts to establish contact with the player and ascertain his whereabouts. These efforts have, regrettably, proved unsuccessful.

“The Head Coach and Team Manager have also confirmed that the player has neither returned to duty nor obtained any authorization to extend his absence,” the statement read.

Bendel Insurance added that Baba is contracted to the club until the end of 2027, meaning he remains bound by his contractual responsibilities and the regulations governing professional football in Nigeria.

The club described the goalkeeper’s continued absence as a matter of “grave disciplinary importance”, saying his actions did not meet the standards expected of a Bendel Insurance player.

“Such conduct is unacceptable and falls short of the standards of professionalism, discipline, commitment and responsibility expected of every player representing Bendel Insurance FC,” the club stated.

Insurance said it would begin all necessary disciplinary and administrative procedures in accordance with Baba’s contract and the relevant rules of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The club also confirmed that it had formally informed both the NPFL and the NFF about the situation. It asked the two organisations to take note of Baba’s status and the circumstances surrounding his unauthorised absence.