The two Nigerian clubs: Plateau United and Rivers United picked massive home wins against their Libyan opponents in the first leg of the Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup additional second preliminary round matches on Wednesday. The two sides who dropped off from the CAF Champions League earned huge wins that have put them one foot into the group stages. Plateau United were 4-1 winners over Al Akhdar while Rivers thrashed El Nasr 5-0.
At the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, the Port Hacourt club dominated the game from start to finish. They were 2-0 up after 15 minutes and went into the half time with a 3 goal lead. Just like the first half, the home side took control of proceedings after the break and had more chances converting two of which to make it a convincing 5-0 victory. The second leg will hold at the Martyrs Stadium, Benghazi on Wednesday, November 9.
At the New Jos Stadium, Plateau United hit Akhdar 4-1 to give themselves some good space for the return tie next week. Ibrahim Mustafa and Onyebuchi Ifeanyi scored in the 27th and 40th minutes respectively, to give the home side a 2-0 comfort at the break.
Albert Hillary’s acrobatic goal with quarter of an hour to play sealed Plateau’s win and despite the visitors pulling one back 10 minutes later, Hillary added his second in added time to secure the victory.
Meanwhile, defending champions of the CAF Confederations Cup RS Berkane will have work to do in the return leg after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisian club side US Monastir away from home.
First Leg Results
RC Kadiogo (Burkina Faso) 0-1 FC St Eloi Lupopo (RD Congo)
Royal Leopards ‘ESwatini) 1-1 As Real Bamako (Mali)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 2-0 Royal AM (South Africa)
CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 1-1 Future FC (Egypt)
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) 2-0 Sporting Club de Gagnoa (Côte d’Ivoire)
Djoliba AC (Mali) 0-0 ASFAR Club (Morocco)
Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) 1-0 Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
ASKO de Kara (Togo) 2-1 CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
Young Africans (Tanzania) 0-0 Club Africain (Tunisia)
Flambeau du centre (Burundi) 0-2 DC Motema Pembe (RD Congo)
Rivers United (Nigeria) 5-0 El Nasr (Libya)
US Monastirienne (Tunisia) 1-0 RS Berkane (Morocco)
Cape Town City (South Africa) 0-0 USM Alger (Algeria)
ASN Nigelec (Niger) 1-0 Pyramids FC (Egypt)
La Passe FC (Seychelles) – CSM Diables Noirs (Congo)
Plateau United (Nigeria) 4-1 Al Akhder (Libya)
The overall winners of the second preliminary round matches will proceed to the group stage of the competition.
