Zesco United wrapped up their 2016 CAF Champions League group stage qualification following a 2-1 home win over Stade Malien at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday.
The Zambian club advanced to June’s group stage 5-2 on aggregate after winning 3-1 in the first leg in Bamako on April 9.
Goals from Jesse Were and Maybin Mwaba ensued Zesco’s win over ten-man Stade Malien and see the Zambian club qualify to the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2009.
Zesco took a 1-0 half-time lead when Were fired in the ball on the near post off a pass from Idris Mbombo inside the box.
Mbombo could have added a second in the 21st minute from close-range but his shot came off body of a Malien defender.
The game lost some steam in the first half but ignited back to life after Stade Malien equalised in the 55th minute through Musa Coulibaly.
Stade Malien then put Zesco on the back foot but the home side kept their shape.
Zesco’s victory was sealed in the 82nd minute, Mbombo was again the provider, while Mwaba put the finishing to cross just three minutes after Cletus Chama had missed in similar circumstances.
Stade Malien were the reduced to ten men in the 89th minute when Issaka Samake was sent off for a stomp on Mwape Mwelwa.
Zesco will know their group stage fate when the league phase draws are made on May 24 in Cairo while Stade Malien have been relegated CAF Confederation Cup.
Comment:good Moue
zambia Futsal team qualified to Africa Cup Of Nations, South Africa 2016 semi finals
ETwasanta ba mwisho ba Lwandamina.
Wonderful result. Go all the way and bring the cup Zesco!
Congratulations ZESCO United.
I have always dreamed of a time when we will have both our Zambian teams qualifying to the group stages of the continental competitions at the same time. I thought it was going to happen this time, but ZANACO could not go far. I hope this dream is fulfilled before I die…Congratulations to ZESCO for making Zambia proud..
go zesco go u huv done us proud.