Nigeria Professional Football League champions Rivers United on Sunday defeated Liberian champions Watanga FC 3-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League qualifying match while Kwara United recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over AS Douanes in the CAF Confederation Cup in Lagos.
Both Nigerian clubs displayed impressive performances to brush aside their opponents to put themselves in good stead for CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup group stage qualification.
At the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, the Pride of Rivers were rewarded for the early dominance in the eighth minute after Kenechukwu Agu scored the first goal of the evening to put the home side in control.
Ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead following a nice assist from Paul Acquah, who set up Ebube Duru to fire in a fierce drive from 20 yards out before scoring himself in first-half stoppage time to make Rivers United’s lead comfortable.
The second leg is scheduled for next weekend (September 18) at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia.
Rivers United will advance to the next round of the competition if they avoid defeat or lose by not more than two goals.
In Lagos, Wasiu Jimoh’s brace after Paul Samson had put Kwara Utd in front against Niger cup winners AS Douanes in the fifth minute helped the Harmony Boys to a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. This puts the Ilorin-based side in the driving seat ahead of the second leg next weekend.
Meanwhile, Gabonese side Stade Mandji held Plateau Utd to a 2-2 draw in Gabon earlier on Saturday in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round first leg.