Matchday five of the CAF Confederation Cup saw eight matches played across the continent on Sunday, with two North African sides RS Berkane and CS Sfaxien advancing to the quarterfinals.
The first game of the day featured Nkana and Zesco in the Cobberbelt Derby played in the city of Kitwe, Zambia.
Both sides went into this encounter in search of a victory as previous results had left Nkana and Zesco facing the prospect of early elimination.
Nkana had lost 3-0 to Asante Kotoko, leaving them on six points, while their counterparts Zesco had also fallen to a 3-1 defeat away to Sudanese giants Al Hilal on March 3.
The Reds edged out the Time Ya Zico 3-0, a result which took them to the top of Group C on nine points and eliminated Zesco who remain rooted at the foot of the group in a run that included three defeats and a draw.
In another Group C match, Asante Kotoko welcomed Sudanese Al Hilal Omdurman at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, needing a win to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Their hopes suffered a setback as they had to fight from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw, in a result that sees the Blue Wave in second place in Group C with eight points, while the Porcupine Warriors are just behind them with seven.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Zamalek continued with their resurgence in the competition by placing themselves in pole position for a place in the last eight, crushing Gor Mahia 4-0 in Cairo.
Mahmoud Alaa gave the hosts the lead 12 minutes in before Youseff Obama doubled their advantage in the 26th minute to seal a steady lead at the half time mark.
The nine-time African champions were in full control of the match after the break with Ferjani Sassi and Omar El Said finding the target late in the match to complete a perfect night.
The result took the Christian Gross coached side top of the group with eight points, two points above Hassan Oktay’s side who slid to the last spot in the group.
Elsewhere, In Luanda, Algeria’s Hussein Dey suffered their second defeat in Group D after losing 2-0 to Angola’s Petro de Luanda at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
First-half goals by Job and Brazilian forward Tiago Azulao saw Petro vacate the basement to the second spot while Hussein Dey were relegated from the top to third place.
In Group A, RS Berkane secured a quarter-final breath having edged out AS Otoho 3-0 in a match played at the Municipal Stadium.
Burkinabe forward Fo-Doh Kodjo Laba opened the scoring in the 6th minute and then provided an assist for the second goal that was slotted in Salman El Haj while Abdessamad El Mobaraky netted the third.
The result sees the Moroccan side secure progression into the last eight with 11 points and a guarantee for a top finish even if they lose their last match against fellow Moroccans Hassania Agadir.
In the other match in Group A, Raja Casablanca battled to a barren draw with Agadir at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco.
Raja, who are the defending champions, have now failed to register a win in five matches in the group stage and as a result, they remain fourth on the group standings.
In Group B, Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien secured progression by defeating Etoile du Sahel 2-1 in a derby clash played at the Stade Taib Mhiri.
Sfaxien scored the first goal early in the second half. Etoile quickly equalised through Sadam Ben Aziza before Nassim Hnid added another one as the match came to an end.
In Ouagadougou, Salitas were held to a 1-1 draw by Enugu Rangers. Ifeanyi George put the Nigerian side in the lead at the 32nd minute before Ilase Sawadogo got the equalizer for the hosts in the 50th minute after Rangers were reduced to ten men.
Saliats now have to win their last match against Etoile du Sahel in the last group game away next Sunday, March 17 in Tunisia.
