Nigerian champions Plateau United started their campaign in the CAF Champions League on a resounding note by defeating Eding Sports of Cameroon 3-0 in their preliminary round, first leg fixture at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.
Oghene Elijah, Sunday Ingbede and Joshua Obaje were all on target for the Tin City club against the Cameroonian champions.
Eding Sports travelled to Nigeria without their head coach Ancient Foe Mbarga following disagreement between him and club president Saint Fabien Mvogo but still pushed Plateau United hard in the game especially in the second half.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute when an Eding Sports defender handled the ball in the box.
Tosin Omoyele who has bagged three goals for Plateau United in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season took the resultant penalty but his effort was saved by the goalkeeper with Elijah firing the rebound into the net.
The visitors dominated proceedings in the second half and had a goal rightly chalked off for offside in the 82nd minute.
They went further down two minutes later when Ingbede beat the offside trap and fired the ball home.
Substitute Obaje added the third in added time following a fantastic through pass by Rapheal Ayagwa.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Akwa United fell 2-1 at home to Banjul Hawks of Gambia.
It was Abdu Maikaba’s men’s first defeat at home in all competitions this season.
The Promise Keepers dominated possession from start to finish in the game but were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal.
Banjul Hawks got the opener through Mohammed Jallow in the the 11th minute, while Lamine Chatty added the second in the 34th minute.
Victor Mbaoma reduced the deficit for the hosts in the 72nd minute.
Meanwhile, MFM FC of Lagos were held to a 1-1 draw by their hosts Real Bamako of Mali in the first leg of their preliminary round tie in the CAF Champions League on Sunday.
The Olukoya Boys, playing their first-ever Champions League game, acquainted themselves well at the Stade Modibo Keita despite a bright start by their hosts and took a shock lead in the 15th minute through Nojeem Akinyemi.
The lead lasted only two minutes before Miakab Giscard levelled scores for the home team with a powerful header.
The visitors suffered a setback five minutes before the break when reliable forward Adekunle Adegboyega was substituted by Akuneto Chijoke due to injury.
Real Bamako piled on the pressure in the second half but Ospino Egbe stood firm in goal for the Nigeria Professional Football League runners-up from last season.
Dimunitive playmaker Chukwuka Onuwa was forced off in the 66th minute due to injury and was replaced by Ubamaka Peter.
Amadou Hiadara came close to scoring the winning goal for Real Bamako five minutes before the end of the game but his free header went off target.
The return fixture will come up in a fortnight at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
