ZESCO United of Zambia have booked their place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time since 2019 after securing a 1-1 draw against Botswana's Jwaneng Galaxy on Saturday. The result saw the Zambian side progress 5-4 on aggregate in the final qualification round.
Chadian forward Amine Hiver gave ZESCO the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Thabang Sesinyi levelled for the home side eight minutes from full-time, setting up a tense finish. A second goal for Galaxy would have seen them advance on away goals, but ZESCO held firm to seal their return to continental group-stage competition.
Backed by Zambia 's national power company, ZESCO United's best continental achievement remains reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in 2016. Their latest qualification marks a significant milestone in their resurgence after several years away from Africa's elite competitions.