Nigerian champions Rivers United hammered Libyan side Al Nasr Benghazi 5-0 in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday afternoon.

Rivers United were demoted to the final playoff round of the second tier interclub competition after losing 7-2 on aggregate to defending champions Wydad Casablanca in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League last month.

Ebube Duru put Rivers United ahead barely 12 minutes into the encounter from a spotkick, following a challenge on Paul Acquah in Al-Nasr’s 18-yard box by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Kazie Enyinnaya doubled the lead for the hosts three minutes later. However, Paul Acquah scored just one minute before the half time whistle to seal a 3-0 first half victory for Rivers United.

Rivers United continued their dominance in the second half of the game but were unable to find the back of the net until the 64th minute of the encounter when Ebube Duru scored from a penalty for the second time in the game to extend the hosts lead to four goals.

Minutes later Malachi Ohawume netted a thunderous shot from close range into the net to score the hosts’ fifth goal in the one-sided encounter to seal an impressive five-nil victory for the ‘The Pride of Rivers’ going into the second leg of the fixture.

The overall winner of the two-legged fixture will progress to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. Rivers United will travel to Libya for the second leg of the encounter next week on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.