Zambia's Zesco progress after five-star Caf Cup show

Zambian club Zesco United overcome a two-goal first-leg deficit by trouncing Gabonese visitors FC 105 5-0 on Sunday to reach the final round of Caf Confederation Cup qualifying.

The hosts made a dream start with David Simukonda and Kabaso Chongo scoring within six minutes of the kick-off to level the first-round tie on aggregate.

Alex Ngonga added a third goal before halftime and Kelvin Kampamba, from a penalty, and Chad international Amine Hiver netted in the second half for United.

Zesco, who are sponsored by the state-owned national power company, are making a ninth appearance in the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League.

Their best Confederation Cup performance was in 2017 when they reached the quarterfinals before losing on away goals to now-defunct South African side SuperSport United.

Zesco will face Botswana outfit Jwaneng Galaxy in the second round during October, with a place among the 16 qualifiers for the group phase on the line.

Jwaneng won a penalty shootout against Malawian visitors Mighty Wanderers 6-5 after the Southern African clubs tied 1-1 on aggregate.

The disappointing record by Nigerian clubs in the second-tier African competition continued with both Kwara United and Abia Warriors failing to get past the first round.

'NIGERIANS FAIL'

After losing a first-leg thriller 4-3 away to two-time African champions Asante Kotoko of Ghana, hopes were high that Kwara would succeed in Abeokuta, 100 kilometres north of the commercial capital, Lagos.

But after the goal fest in Ghana, only one was scored in Nigeria, and the strike from Hubert Gyau on 54 minutes gave Kotoko a 1-0 win and a 5-3 overall victory.

Kotoko next face 2025 Club World Cup qualifiers Wydad Casablanca, a Moroccan side who have won five Caf competitions, including the most prestigious, the Champions League, three times.

Abia travelled to Mali for a return match against experienced African campaigners Djoliba as underdogs, having been held 1-1 in Nigeria last weekend.

The second leg in Bamako was decided by a solitary goal, with Raye Cisse scoring from a header 31 minutes into the first half. His effort earned Djoliba a last-32 showdown with USFA of Burkina Faso.

Kaizer Chiefs, the most popular South African club, needed a penalty shootout in Johannesburg to eliminate Kabuscorp of Angola after both sides won 1-0 at home.

Aden McCarthy, the 21-year-old son of former Chiefs star Fabian McCarthy, converted the spot kick that gave his club a 5-4 win on penalties.

African debutants Simba from the Democratic Republic of Congo edged Djabal from the Comoros 1-0 in a delayed first leg in southern Congolese city Lubumbashi and the winners of that tie will face Chiefs.