JOSEPH Atule scored twice as Nigerian club Enyimba finally clicked in the CAF Confederation Cup by hammering Mozambican visitors Black Bulls 4-1 on Sunday.
The two-time African champions remain bottom of Group D despite the victory, but they are only one point behind second-placed Al Masry of Egypt with two matchdays remaining.
Clubs finishing first and second in the four groups qualify for the knockout stage and Enyimba are hoping to become the first winners from Nigeria.
Enyimba host Masry in southeastern city Uyo next Sunday, seeking to atone for a 2-0 loss in north Africa last November.
A string of poor domestic and African results, including a 3-0 loss away to Bulls last month, led Enyimba to change coaches, hiring veteran Stanley Eguma in place of Yemi Olarenwaju.
Atule bagged the first and last goals of the match and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele and Brown Ideye also scored for Enyimba, who had netted just twice in five previous qualifying and group matches.
Bulls’ goal also came from a Nigerian, with Ejaita Ifoni equalising before Ihemekwele gave the home team a 2-1 half-time lead in the 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 and Bulls and Enyimba four each.
South African outfit Stellenbosch, one of six group debutants, boosted their hopes of a last-eight spot by defeating Desportivo Lunda Sul from 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 a quarter-finals place from the same group by winning 1-0 at Stade Malien of Mali. Stellenbosch will also qualify if they beat Stade next Sunday.
Tanzanian hopefuls Simba won 1-0 against three-time Confederation Cup title-holders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in Rades to share the Group A lead with CS Constantine of Algeria on nine points.
It was the fourth straight group loss for Sfaxien, who recently sacked Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos.