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Joseph Atule scored twice as Nigerian club Enyimba finally found form in the CAF Confederation Cup, hammering Mozambican visitors Black Bulls 4-1 on Sunday.
Despite the victory, the two-time African champions remain bottom of Group D. However, they are just one point behind second-placed Al Masry of Egypt, with two matchdays remaining.
The top two clubs in each of the four groups qualify for the knockout stage, and Enyimba are aiming to become the first Nigerian winners of the competition.
Enyimba will host Masry in the southeastern city of Uyo next Sunday, seeking to avenge a 2-0 defeat suffered in North Africa last November.
A series of poor domestic and African results, including a 3-0 loss away to Black Bulls last month, prompted Enyimba to make a coaching change, hiring veteran Stanley Eguma to replace Yemi Olarenwaju.
Atule scored the first and last goals of the match, with Ifeanyi Ihemekwele and Brown Ideye also on the scoresheet for Enyimba, who had managed just two goals in their previous five qualifying and group matches.
The Bulls’ only goal came from Nigerian Ejaita Ifoni, who equalised before Ihemekwele restored Enyimba’s lead to 2-1 by half-time in this African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
Title-holders Zamalek of Egypt, who drew 0-0 away to Masry in Alexandria, top the table with eight points. Masry have five, while Black Bulls and Enyimba each have four.
Elsewhere, South African side Stellenbosch boosted their hopes of reaching the last eight by defeating Desportivo Lunda Sul of Angola 2-0 in Pretoria.
Former New Zealand midfielder Andre de Jong scored both goals in Group B, breaking the deadlock with a clinical finish on 50 minutes and converting a penalty midway through the second half.
Renaissance Berkane of Morocco secured their quarter-final spot from the same group with a 1-0 win at Stade Malien of Mali. Stellenbosch can also qualify if they defeat Stade next Sunday.
Tanzanian side Simba won 1-0 against three-time Confederation Cup title-holders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in Rades, sharing the Group A lead with CS Constantine of Algeria on nine points.
It was the fourth consecutive group loss for Sfaxien, who recently sacked their Portuguese coach, Alexandre Santos.
AFP
