Zesco United head into the 2016 CAF Champions League group stage draws in the company of seven ex-African champions.
George Lwandamina’s team is the only one of the eight team’s heading into the May 24 group stage draws never to have won the African title.
However, Zesco remain the only Zambian club to have played in the league stage of the same competition.
Nkana and Zanaco campaigned in the 2014 and 2010 editions of the Confederation Cup respectively.
Meanwhile, Zesco’s prospective group stage opponents include record 8-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt and their compatriots and five-time winners Zamalek.
2003 and 2004 champions Enyimba of Nigeria are also through.
Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, DR Congo side AS Vita, ASEC from Cote d’Ivoire and Algerian club ES Setif, all with one win each, are also through.
The teams will be drawn in two groups of four and will play each other in a league format for a place in October’s semifinals.
Defending champions TP Mazembe were knockout of the competition by Wydad who drew 1-1 in Lubumbashi on Wednesday to advance 3-1 on aggregate.
Mazembe have been demoted to the Confederation Cup last 16 for a place in that competitions’ group stage where they will play Stade Gabesien of Tunisia who eliminated Zanaco 4-1 on aggregate on Tuesday.
This is very good for zega
Well done Zesco. Do us pride.
Zesco mulilo, waikatako wapya….Not scared of those names, we will disconnect all of them and load-shed them all. Wish you all the best ba Zega.