Comfortable CAF Champions League passage for Zanaco

JOHANNESBURG: Zanaco of Zambia triumphed 3-1 at Armed Forces of Gambia Saturday to complete the CAF Champions League last-32 line-up.

The Lusaka-based outfit progressed 6-1 on aggregate having built a three-goal first-leg lead in the preliminary round of the elite African club competition.

Any hopes Armed Forces had of staging a dramatic recovery in the tiny west African country surrounded by Senegal disappeared after 17 minutes when Ernest Mbewe scored for Zanaco.

That goal left the Gambians needing to score at least five to qualify, but all they could manage was a second-leg equaliser from Lamin Sanneh before half-time.

Zanaco completed a home-and-away double over Armed Forces thanks to goals from Kennedy Phiri and George Chilufya in the final six minutes of the match.

Zambia have two clubs in the Champions League for the first time this year and Zesco United hammered JKU of Zanzibar 7-0 in Ndola three days ago after a goalless first leg.

Zanaco face Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland in the round of 32 and Zesco tackle 1998 champions ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast with places in the group stage up for grabs.

First legs are scheduled for March 6 and 7 with the return matches between March 16 and 18.