Two-time Caf Champions League winners, Enyimba, started their campaign with a three-nil win over Buffles du Borgou Fc of Benin Republic in Aba on Sunday.
Enyimba were forced to make a late change to their starting line-up as Abdulrazak Aliyu made way for Sikiru Lawal after suffering a slight knock in the warm-up.
Cameroonian striker, Rafael Boumsong started from the bench with coach Kadiri Ikhana preferring to play a front line of four pacy players, Peter Onyekachi, Andrew Abalogu, Daniel Etor and Chinonso Okonkwo.
Last season's top scorer in the NPFL, Mfon Udoh, was not listed in Enyimba's match day programme.
The Peoples Elephant, however, made it a tough task for themselves as they frittered away numerous scoring chances in the contest, and nearly handed Buffles the initiative when they had just a goal lead.
The Aba-based club got off the blocks faster and nearly got the lead in the opening three minutes when Buffles defence failed to clear Abalogu's cross properly.
Four minutes later, Etor finished off Onyekachi's cross into an empty net to give the Peoples Elephant a 1-0 lead, as the fans thought the goals will start to follow.
Just half an hour into the game, Etor, Abalogu and Onyekachi all missed gilt-edged chances to see off the Beninoise club.
It was the turn of Okonkwo in the 36th minute. He was played through on goal and left one-on-one with Buffles keeper Soffo Souradjou but instead he chose to pass the ball to Onyekachi in an offside position.
Three minutes to half time, Enyimba left-back Idris Aloma made it out a long way out of his defensive duty in a bid to score but Souradjou came out in time to block. That summed up Enyimba's first half.
The second half got into gear in same fashion. Kingsley Sokari threaded a pass to Okonkwo, who shot straight at the Buffles keeper just two minutes into the restart.
Etor could not replicate his first half strike when the ball dropped for him in front of Buffles goal as he fired wide.
In the 53rd minute, substitute Nzube Anaezemba saw his bolter come off the woodwork while Okonkwo was guilty once again with an unforgivable miss from close range as it was all Enyimba at this point.
Buffles had one rare chance, and could have evened score in the 70th minute but Aloma's outstretched leg cleared the scoring chance off the line.
Seven minutes later, Onyekachi was fouled in the box but Anaezemba could not make the spot kick count as he blazed it over the bar.
In the 83rd minute, one of the smallest men on the pitch, Sokari, nodded in Bright Esieme's cross from an unmarked position to double Enyimba's lead.
Finally, the man who pulled the strings for Enyimba on the afternoon, Onyekachi, got on the score sheet in the 90th minute.
The Peoples Elephant will now take a three-goal advantage to Benin Republic in a fortnight when Buffles will host them. in the second leg, preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.
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