CAF Confederation Cup Recap: ZESCO United storm back, Al Akhdar shocked

24 of the 26 places in the final round of qualifying are now determined after the CAF Confederation Cup completed the lion’s share of its first round fixtures on Sunday. Zambia’s ZESCO United were among the big winners with a 5-0 thrashing of Gabonese side FC Libreville at home in their second leg clash.

The Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola played host to a delightful result for the home side, who overcame a 0-2 first leg defeat to emphatically book their place in the second round. David Simukonda and veteran defender Kabaso Chongo scored inside the opening six minutes to erase the deficit before Alex Ngonga put ZESCO up for good close to halftime.

Ghanaian powerhouse Asante Kotoko did well to move on with a 1-0 victory in Nigeria over Kwara United. Hubert Gyau’s second half strike helped the Porcupine Warriors escape after Kwara threatened their goal on several occasions.

The biggest shock of the day came in Libya where Al Akhdar could only manage a 2-2 draw at home against Burundi’s Flambeau du Centre, who previously won the first leg 2-1 at home. It is an incredible result for the Burundian club, who are now a step away from making history.

Burundi has never had a representative reach the group stage of either the Confederation Cup or the CAF Champions League, with the last notable achievement for the nation in CAF competition back in 1992 when Vital’O reached the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup.

Elsewhere, AS Otoho of the Republic of Congo advanced with a 0-0 draw at home after previously stunning Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto in the first leg played in Luanda. In two all-West African clashes, Mali’s Djoliba advanced past Abia Warriors of Nigeria (2-1 aggregate) while Burkinabe side USFA defeated Gbohloe-Su of Togo.

Tanzania’s Azam FC faced no problems against South Sudanese side El Merrikh Bentiu, winning 2-0 in the second leg in Dar es Salaam to complete a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Only two ties are yet to be settled. AS Simba defeated Djabal d’Iconi of Comoros 1-0 in Sunday’s first leg while the other Congolese representative, AS Maniema Union, won 2-1 on Saturday in their first leg against Pamplemousses of Mauritius.

CAF Confederation Cup: Results

Sunday

AS Simba (DRC) 1-0 Djabal d’Iconi (COM)

• First leg. Second leg will be played on October 4

ZESCO United (ZAM) 5-0 FC Libreville (GAB)

• ZESCO United advance 5-2 on aggregate.

Azam FC (TZA) 2-0 El Merrikh Bentiu (SSD)

• Azam FC advance 4-0 on aggregate.

AS Otoho (COG) 0-0 Primeiro de Agosto (ANG)

• AS Otoho advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Gboholo-Su (TOG) 0-2 USFA (BFA)

• USFA advance 3-0 on aggregate.

Kwara United (NGA) 0-1 Asante Kotoko (GHA)

• Asante Kotoko advance 5-3 on aggregate.

Al Akhdar (LBY) 2-2 Flambeau du Centre (BDI)

• Flambeau du Centre advance 4-3 on aggregate.

Djoliba (MLI) 1-0 Abia Warriors (NGA)

• Djoliba advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Friday & Saturday

AS Fanalamanga (MDG) 1-2 Ferroviario Maputo (MOZ)

• Ferroviario Maputo advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Royal Leopards (ESW) 5-0 Young African (NAM)

• Royal Leopards advance 7-0 on aggregate.

KMKM (ZAN) 2-1 AS Port (DJI)

• KMKM advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Hafia FC (GUI) 2-3 Bhantal FC (SLE)

• Hafia FC advance 5-3 on aggregate.

Al Ittihad (LBY) 3-1 Wolayta Dicha (ETH)

• Al Ittihad advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Coton FC (BEN) 4-1 Black Man Warrior (LBR)

• Coton FC advance 4-1 on aggregate.

Al Zamala (SDN) 2-1 Dekedda (SOM)

• Tied 2-2 on aggregate. Dekedda advance via the away goals rule.

Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 1-0 Kabuscorp (ANG)

• Tied 1-1 on aggregate. Kaizer Chiefs win 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

Nairobi United (KEN) 1-1 NEC FC (UGA)

• Tied 3-3 on aggregate. Nairobi United advance via the away goals rule.

AS Maniema Union (DRC) 2-1 Pamplemousses (MUS)

• First leg. Second leg will be played on October 3.

AFAD Plateau (CIV) 5-3 Generation Foot (SEN)

• AFAD Plateau advance 6-4 on aggregate.

FC San Pedro (CIV) 2-2 Aigle Royal (CMR)

• FC San Pedro advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Singida Black Stars (TZA) 2-1 Rayon Sports (RWA)

• Singida Black Stars advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Etoile du Sahel (TUN) 3-0 Al Ahly Wad Madani (SDN)

• Etoile du Sahel advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Jwaneng Galaxy (BWA) 1-0 Mighty Wanderers (MWI)

• Tied 1-1 on aggregate. Jwanenge Galaxy win 6-5 in a penalty shootout.

ASC SNIM (MRT) 0-0 Stade Tunisien (TUN)

• Stade Tunisien advance 2-0 on aggregate.

Olympique Safi (MAR) 5-0 ASN Nigelec (NER)

• Olympique Safi advance 6-0 on aggregate.⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.