Orlando Pirates defeated Stade d'Abidjan 3-0 to move top of their CAF Champions League group on Saturday evening.
The Buccaneers recalled playmaker Patrick Maswanganyi along with Tshegofatso Mabasa, who replaced Evidence Makgopa upfront.
Pirates exerted relentless pressure on the visitors earlier on and got a route to break clear courtesy of Kabelo Dlamini's free-kick from range, but Drissa Bamba produced a good save.
More trouble wrestled on the Ivorians later as a one-two released Deon Hotto in-between the two challengers, but the Namibian shot wide of the upright.
The intricate patterns from the host reaped rewards when Mohau Nkota's run-in on blind-side got the attention of Bamba before laying off to Relebohile Mofokeng for an easy finish.
Bamba miraculously came to their aid and clawed a first-time belter from an acute angle by Hotto out of the air well inside the final ten minutes of the break.
However, there was no stopping the host five minutes after halftime when a slick passing move saw Maswanganyi got out on the far side to wriggle out of two challengers and firing into the far corner.
The returning Maswanganyi should've bagged a second goal midway through the half though hoofed a low cutback to the centre of the area by Nkota way over the top.
With the match in the balance, Pirates decided to shift to the substitutes bench and summoned on full-back Paseka Mako for Nkota.
Abidjan were out of sight five minutes from time when Hotto beat the offside trap to ran onto a perfectly placed through pass and fired in the bottom-corner.
The Buccaneers looked on course for more with the minutes flowing, but in the end settled for a comprehensive three-goal victory.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Van Rooyen, Sibisi, Sesane, Mofokeng, Hotto, Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Dlamini, Mabasa, Nkota
Subs: Buthelezi, Xoki, Monyane, Mako, Rasebotja, Moleleki, Tshobeni, Radiopane, Makgopa.