CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers United, Plateau secure big wins over Libyan opponents
True to their words, Rivers United set the tone by putting five goals past their North African Counterparts.
Rivers United and Plateau United on Wednesday recorded resounding victories in their CAF Confederation Cup first-leg playoffs ties against Libyan clubs; Al Nasr and Al-Akhdar, respectively.
While the Nigerian champions cruised to an emphatic 5-0 win at the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium in Port-Harcourt, Plateau United didn’t do badly either, with their 4-1 victory at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Having both been dumped out of the Champions League in the second preliminary round, Rivers and Plateau United have since shifted focus to the Confederation Cup where they have promised to make a mark.
True to their words, Rivers United set the tone by putting five goals past their North African Counterparts.
Stanley Eguma’s men were handed a bright start in their game as they were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after Paul Acquah was brought down in the box by the Libyan goalkeeper.
Ebube Duru stepped out to take the kick and he made no mistake burying the ball into the net to give the NPFL champions a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Kazie Enyinnaya was on hand to double Rivers United’s lead.
Acquah made it 3-0 just before halftime as Rivers United went into the break with a healthy lead.
With the resolve to score as many goals as possible in the first leg, Rivers United kept up the momentum, and they were able to get two more goals.
The Garden City team got another penalty in the 63rd minute, which was again converted by Duru to make the score 4-0 while Malachi Ohahume completed the rout in the 74th minute as it ended 5-0 for the NPFL champions.
Plateau United
For the game in Abuja, the Peace Boys also had it good, with two second-half goals from Albert Hilary after the duo of Mustapha Yuga and Ifeanyi Emmanuel had given Plateau United the lead in the first half.
Having done reasonably well in the first leg, Rivers and Plateau United will be looking to consolidate these results in the second leg slated for 9 November 2022 in Libya.
The winners over the two legs will progress to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
