A host of African Champions League first-timers scored on their debut as Asante Kotoko crushed Sony Ela Nguema 7-0 in Kumasi on Sunday.
The win at the Baba Yara Stadium, gives the Porcupine Warriors a comfortable lead, going into the return leg of the preliminary round fixture as they return to the competition after four seasons
A brace from striker Kofi Nti Boakye, Abdul Aziz Yusif, Michael Anaba, Richard Mpong, Siedu Bancey and Joseph Ochaya puts Kotoko in the driving seat.
And the result is Kotoko's biggest in the competition since it was christened, the Champions League and in all competitive matches under coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani.
Nti Boakye opened the scoring for Kotoko, thirteen minutes into the start of the match before Yusif doubled their lead after 29 minutes.
Kotoko finished the first half 4-nil up with midfielder Anaba and Nti Boakye scoring the third and fourth goals.
Back from the break, Kotoko had to wait until the 70th minute before they scored their fifth goal through Mpong.
Substitute Bancey after a flurry of misses finally found the back of the net. Then in the 89th minute, Ochaya put the gloss to the finish when he slotted home the seventh goal.
Kotoko will meet either JSM Bejaia of Algeria or Niger’s FC Olympic de Niamey in the next round if they advance from the return leg next month in Malabo.