JOHANNESBURG: Wydad Casablanca of Morocco fought back to draw 1-1 at ZESCO United of Zambia on Wednesday and finish first in Group A of the CAF Champions League.
Kenyan David Odhiambo scored for ZESCO after 17 minutes in Ndola and Nigerian Chisom Chikatara equalised on 56 minutes in a lively match that hung in the balance until the final whistle.
Wydad will meet Zamalek of Egypt in the two-leg semi-finals during September while ZESCO face Group B winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
The pairings guarantee a second north-versus-south climax to the premier African club competition in four years after Al Ahly of Egypt beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa in 2013.
North African clubs have won the Champions League -- formerly the African Cup of Champions Clubs -- 28 times while Pirates are the only team from the southern region to lift the trophy.
Wydad, who beat ZESCO 2-0 in Morocco two months ago, topped the final standings with 11 points, ZESCO had nine, record eight-time champions Al Ahly six and ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast five.
ASEC and Ahly drew 0-0 in a final round match at Stade Robert Champroux in Ivorian commercial capital Abidjan where only pride was at stake.
ZESCO twice came close to scoring within a minute before Odhiambo nodded into the net off the crossbar after taking advantage of slack marking at a corner.
Fellow Kenyan Jesse Were wasted a chance to double the lead almost immediately at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium when he blazed over from close range.
Chikatara, a recent signing after lengthy transfer negotiations with Nigerian club Abia Warriors, curled a shot from the edge of the box past goalkeeper Jacob Banda to restore parity.
Congo Brazzaville-born Fabrice Ondama came close to snatching victory for Wydad just before time with his header flying just wide.
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