Zanaco gave a good account of themselves on their debut CAF Champions League group stage appearance on Saturday night when they drew away against giants Al Ahly in Egypt.

Zanaco held the 8-time African champions to a 0-0 away draw in Alexandria to deny them a home win in their opening Group D meeting.

Mumamba Numba’s side were solid in defence as Al Ahly battled to make a statement in the home leg match.

And Zanaco had especially goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata to thank when, in the the 90th minute, he parried Côte d’Ivoire striker Souleymane Coulibaly’s shot that was quickly cleared by defender George Chilufya.

Two minutes deep into the four minutes of added time, Zakaria Momen gave Zanaco a scare when his shot from an acute angle missed the far post by inches.

The result was a blow for Al Ahly who failed again to beat a Zambian opponent for a third straight Champions League group stage game.

This after Zesco United beat them 3-2 in Ndola last June and held them to a 2-2 away draw in Suez last August in Group A to end the Egyptians semifinal dreams

Zanaco are joint second on one point with Al Ahly and two behind leaders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco who beat Cameroonian side Cotonsport 2-0 on Friday at home in Casablanca.

Wydad visit Zanaco next in midweek clash on May 24 in Lusaka in a battle for top spot.