Zesco United on Friday blew away the prospect of early semifinal qualification with a game to spare after finishing level with record eight-time winners Al Ahly in their penultimate Group A match in the 2016 CAF Champions League.
Zesco threw away a 2-1 halftime lead to finish 2-2 away to Al Ahly in Suez, Egypt.
Jesse Were fired in a brace in the 5th and 34th minutes but Rami Rabia put Al Ahly back into the match in the 40th minute to see the two sides go 2-1 into the break.
Zesco were then punished for going all-defensive in the second period when Amad Mateb beat Jacob banda in the 84th minute.
Al Ahly could have snatched a stoppage time winner through Saad Samir but Banda made sure they shared the spoils when he parried the defender’s effort.
Meanwhile, Zesco lead Group A for at least 48 hours on 8 points, one more than Wydad Casablanca who host bottom placed ASEC Mimosa, on 4 points, on Sunday in Rabat.
Al Ahly stay third on 5 points.
Zesco must now beat Wydad in Ndola on August 23 to advance.
a draw in morroco zesco will qualify
Lets change government and stop this kind of PF reporting. Zesco played good, mwembwa mwee.
And they were in sad mood to hear their Edgar is loosing elections.
What are the rules here? Hasn’t Team Ya Ziko already qualified since they have a better head to head standing against both Al Ahly and ASEC ? Al Ahly can only amass 8 points, and no more, from the remaining games.Unless Ivorians can beat Morrocans, their total haul can’t be more than 8 points after the group stage. Somebody, FAZ, please check the rules of and qualification permutations and put us in the light. I truly feel that team Ya Ziko has qualified for the semies. By the way, the Morrocans will be coming to Levy next.
You are right Tubulu…they use head to head. Should Wydad beat Asec M then Zesco qualifies. The next game Zesco is at Levy with Wydad. Well done Zesco…don’t loadshed yourself in the last game
ZESCO has qualified on head to head rule imwee bane… Anything other than that will be clear manipulation of the rules, period!!!
Poor reporting
@AK47-if Asec beat Wydad it means they will have 7points. That’s y we can’t say that Zesco has qualified. That will mean Zesco 8pionts,Wydad 7 and Asec 7. That will make the group go to the wire. A draw 4 Asec and Asec will also mean Zesco qualifies. To easy the burden I’m sure Wydad will fight to beat Asec knowing that they are playing their last game away in Ndola
@RedCard is right. If ASEC beats Wydad, they go to 7 points, with their last game at home against Al Ahaly. That would give Asec 10 points (if Asec were to beat Al Ahaly in their last game). Assuming this came true, Wydad go for an outright victory against Zesco in the Ndola game.
Our hope, at this stage, is for Wydad to win or at least draw with Asec in their next game on Sunday. Then the head to head rule would become a factor in relation to Asec.
am a kenyan buy am liking zambia football ,determination,hard work and believing,congrats zesco
Use Jesse Were regularly in your Kenya national team, he is good player. He has learnt soccer without red cards.