Nigerian champions Rivers United and Plateau United both recorded massive wins in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup playoff ties against Libyan oppositions Al Nasr and Al Akhdar.
Both sides were sent packing from the CAF Champions League following aggregate defeats to Wydad Casablanca and Esperance Setif du Tunis in the second qualifying round of the competition in October.
They then dropped to the playoff round of the CAF's second-tier club competition where they got paired with two of the 16 winners of the second round of the Confederation Cup.
5-star Rivers United whitewash Al Nasr
In Port-Harcourt, Ebube Duru scored a brace with Kazie Enyinnaya, Paul Acquah, and Malachi Ohawume also getting on the scoresheet to see Rivers United secure a comfortable 5-0 victory over Al Nasr Benghazi.
Stanley Eguma’s side dominated the game from the onset as they got rewarded just after 12 minutes via Duru's strike.
The Pride of Rivers then made it two just two minutes later when Enyinnaya beat Al Nasr's goalkeeper. A minute before half-time, the team scored another goal with Ghanaian midfielder Acquah putting his name on the scorers’ sheet.
Duru struck again to make it four in the second half before Ohawume's volley sealed the win at the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium, eight minutes after.
Al Akhdar grab important away goal as Plateau score four
In Abuja, Plateau United took a leaf from the Nigerian champions as they defeated the Libyan visitors 4-1 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
First, Mustapha Yuga Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Emmanuel scored in the 27th and 41st minutes to secure a 2-0 first-half victory for the Jos club, before Albert Hilary extended Plateau United's with fifteen minutes left of the clock
The visitors did pull one back ten minutes later, giving themselves a cushion ahead of the second leg, however, Fidelis Ilechukwu's side had the final say as Albert Hilary hit his brace in the final seconds to seal an impressive 4-1 victory.
Both Rivers and Plateau United will head to Libya next Wednesday for their respective second-leg encounter, with the overall winner of the two-legged fixtures, progressing to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.