Benin’s ESAE were held to a 0-0 draw by Zambia’s Zanaco FC in their CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash played at Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto-Novo on Sunday afternoon.
The opening 20 minutes proved to be a lively affair, as ESAE were denied a penalty in the tenth minute, although a replay suggests there was contact made by Ziyo Tebo on Emmanuel Onyekweni.
The first chance of the half arrived in the 26th minute, Eric Sewa floated an inviting cross into the box for Farid Edou, but the midfielder failed to keep his header on target.
ESAE should have gone ahead in the 37th minute, Alfred Linkpon picked out Boris Flacandji from a set-piece but the defender headed over from six-yards out.
That was as good as it got, as far chances were concerned, as the Beninese were quite content to sit back and let Zanaco have the ball for most of the half.
It was a quiet opening 45 minutes for both goalkeepers, as neither had a save to make.
Shortly after the interval, ESAE survived a scare after Nnamdi Amario almost put the ball into his own net when attempting to clear a Giuly Manziba delivery in the box. It was a very cagey encounter with chances few and far between.
Zanaco stepped up the gear after the hour mark and began to exert plenty of pressure on the visitors. After having a penalty shout for handball turned down, Charles Zulu’s shot went sailing over the bar.
With 15 minutes to go, Eric Sewa almost caught Jimmy Nakena off his line with an excellent lob but the Zanaco keeper scrambled backwards well and tipped the ball over the bar.
Marcel Dandjinou came to ESAE’s rescue in the 83rd minute, the shot-stopper came off his line and pulled off a fine save to keep out Emmanuel Okutu’s close-range effort.
Neither side could break the deadlock in the closing stages, with Maxime Kokpo going close once again but he fired into the side-netting, as both sides were forced to settle for a point.
How they lined up:
ESAE: Dandjinou, Sewa, Amairo, Ibrahim, Akplogan, Flacandji, Bello, Linkpon, Edou (Dossou 71’), Onyekweni, Kokpon
Zanaco: Nsabata, Nakena, Owusu Amoh, Tembo, Chungu (Kamanga 46’), Zulu (Mbewe 41’), Rusike, Lassa Gradi, Moussa, Manziba, Okutu
