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Rivers United fought hard to secure a 2-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League first round, first leg tie at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday night.
The Nigerian champions saw themselves chasing the game in front of the fans in the opening half after their Moroccan counterparts gained a stunning away lead but the former bounced back to claim maximum points in the first leg against the defending CAF Champions League champions.
The Jewel of Rivers got off to a fine start on their home ground in the early stage but they were stunned by Bouly Junior Sambou as the Senegalese striker gave Wydad the lead in the 32nd minute.
Rivers did not wait for two long to find an immediate response as Malachi Ohawume inspired the hosts comeback when he levelled for the hosts two minutes later.
After the break, Rivers United started the second half brightly as Ghanaian midfielder Paul Acquah completed the hosts comeback in front the home fans with a clinical finish in the 53rd minute.
Rivers came close to increasing the lead but they failed to make the best of their scoring chances despite preserving their a slender advantage ahead of the reverse fixture which will take place in Casablanca next week Friday.
In Abuja, Nigeria’s second representative in the competition, Plateau United also recovered from a goal down to upstage Tunisian giants Esperance for a 2-1 triumph at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
Like North African rivals Wydad against Rivers United, Esperance got in front at the expense of their hosts courtesy of Tunisian forward Anice Badri's effort in the 27th minute of the first round, first leg encounter.
Plateau United, however, did not allow the visitors' celebrations to last long when Ifeanyi Emmanuel secured the equaliser for the home team seven minutes later after profiting from the Tunisians failure to deal with Daniel Itodo’s long throw-in.
Before the half time, Mustapha Yuga netted the winning goal for the Peace Boys as they held on until the end to claim a slim first leg victory over the Tunisians on their adopted home ground.
They will seek to build on their narrow lead in the second leg is billed for next week Sunday in Tunis.
