Zesco gets CAF date with Downs

WYDAD Casablanca of Morocco fought back to draw 1-1 at Zesco United of Zambia yesterday as the Moroccan champions finished as CAF Champions League Group A winners.

Wydad will meet Zamalek of Egypt in the two-leg semi-finals next month.

Zesco will face Group B winners Mamelodi Sundowns, who lost 3-1 to Enyimba of Nigeria at Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

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 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 their final round match at Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan where only pride was at stake. Semifinal draw at a glance: Zamalek (Egypt) v Casablanca (Morocco)

Zesco (Zambia) v Sundowns (South Africa)

First legs: September 16-18, second: September 23-25.

Aggregate winners qualify for the two-leg final.