Goals from Isiaka Oladuntoye and Soporushi Dimgba handed Enyimba International a 2-0 win over Djoliba AC in a CAF Confederation Cup Group C opener played at U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Enyimba got off to an encouraging start and could have gone ahead after seven minutes, when Osadiaye Joseph did well to cut inside, before firing inches wide of the upright.
The People Elephants continued to dominate and went even closer in the 29th minute when Ibrahim Mustapha rattled the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Omofoman Freedom was a major threat for Enyimba down the left flank and the striker was at the heart of all the hosts’ attacks in the opening 45 minutes.
Djoliba, meanwhile, were quiet content to sit back and let the home side have the ball, with the hope of catching them on the counter. While, they also failed to test Abdul Dawuda throughout the opening stanza.
Paul Aigbogun’s side broke the deadlock on the 48th minute, as Oladuntoye did well to create space for himself before unleashing a sublime effort from 20-yards out.
Enyimba should have doubled their advantage a minute later but Farouk Mohammed left-footed shot from the edge of the area went wide.
The Peoples Elephants were under pressure after 70 minutes as Seydou Diallo delivered a great cross from the left wing that Traore controlled beautifully inside the box with his left foot but his strike sailed over the bar.
Enyimba were then awarded a penalty in the 80th minute.Soporushi Digmba stepped up and sent the Adama Keita the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Abdul Bahir should have ended the game as a contest after going through on goal three minutes before time following a counter-attack but he opted to pass in the behind of Diallo instead of going for goal at close range and it finished 2-0 in favour of the Peoples Elephants.
The victory gives Enyimba all three points going into their next fixture away against CARA Brazzaville.