Etoile Sahel's Seif Ghezal (l) and Karim Haune vie with Kabiru Alausa of Julius Berger

Etoile 3-0 Julius Berger(Etoile win 3-2 on aggregate)

Etoile Sahel of Tunisia staged a stirring second leg comeback to beat Julius Berger of Nigeria 3-0 to win the African Cup Winners' Cup final on Saturday.

The Tunisians trailed 2-0 from the first leg, but they went ahead within 80 seconds through Nigerian Ogochukwu Obiakor and should have levelled the aggregate score when Seif Ghezal had a first-half penalty saved.

But Obiakor punished his compatriots twice more in the second half, registering a hat-trick as he scored goals after 60 and 87 minutes to give Etoile the trophy.

Etoile were superb throughout the side, and in midfield Kone and the veteran Zoubier Baya buzzed like bees from the whistle, setting up a string of raids down the flanks.

Obiakor, scorer of the goal that finished off title holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the semi-finals, missed the first leg of the decider through suspension.

KEY MOMENTS 2 mins: Brahima Kone gives Etoile the lead 60 mins: Ogochukwu Obiakor makes it level on aggregate 87 mins: Obiakor seals victory for the Tunisian side

But he was a constant menace in the return match, his massive frame providing the Berger defenders with real problems.

Berger defended far too deep during the first half, conceding acres of space to the red-shirted Tunisians, and after starting the second half in a more positive mood, retreated into a defensive shell again.

Goalkeeper Chijioke Ejiogu parried shots from Baya and Obiakor before Kone forced the ball over the line to give Etoile a dream start as they sought to become the first club to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the final.

And the rampant Tunisians should have levelled the aggregate scores with 18 minutes gone when a Taiwo Ajibola handball offered Ghezal a chance from the penalty spot.

But he fluffed his lines with an unconvincing kick that Ejiogu parried away for a corner.

Berger did not force their first corner until the 22nd minute and the team that scored 21 goals in nine Cup Winners' Cup matches never pushed forward in sufficient numbers to trouble the Tunisians.

Even a series of early second-half substitutions by coach Fatai Amoo could not stem the tide toward and when a Baya shot was deflected, unmarked Obiakor grasped his chance to score his first goal.

Obiakor could have struck again soon after, controlling a cross with his chest and unleashing a shot a well-positioned Ejiogu held.

But the Nigerian exile had the final say, once again being perfectly positioned to deflect the ball into the net after the 10th Etoile corner was followed by a low drive into the heart of the penalty area.