By Kennedy Gondwe BBC Sport, Lusaka

Zambia's Green Buffaloes are out of the Confederation Cup

Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon drew 1-1 with Zambia's Green Buffaloes in Lusaka on Saturday but go through to the group stage of the Confederation Cup with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Cotonsport, who lost to Esperance in the second round of the Champions League, made the most of their second chance and the win has earned them a place in the group stages of the competition.

Despite the Zambian side's elimination, Buffaloes coach George Lwandamina had praise for his side.

"This game was tough but I must say that we have done well to get this far," he said.

The West Africans were the first to score when Gustav Bebbe headed home an Onmaron Sanda cross from the right in the 28th minute.

Seven minutes later, Cotonsport nearly doubled their lead when Sanda once again crossed from the right but this time Bebbe's header went wide of the target.

Buffaloes finally got their act together moments after when Chris Katongo latched on to a loose ball but Cotonsport goalkeeper Kameni Maturi was quick to intercept and make the save.

Confederation Cup results

Four minutes before half-time, Buffaloes eventually beat Maturi when Clive Hachilensa hit a long cross into the box that was acrobatically volleyed home by Dudley Fichite.

In the other ties played on Saturday, Hearts of Oak joined Cotonsport in the group stage of the competition after a 0-0 draw with AS Douanes of Senegal in Dakar took the Ghanaian side through 1-0 on aggregate.

Petro Atletico of Angola also qualified 1-0 on aggregate, after Flavio Amado scored a 44th-minute winner against Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in Rabat.

The first leg between the two sides had ended goalless in Luanda.

Another Moroccan side exiting the Confederation Cup was Wydad Casablanca, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Ghana's Asante Kotoko.

Kotoko qualify 3-1 on aggregate after their 2-0 victory at home in the first leg.

Mourad Erraji gave Wydad a first-half lead with his 36th-minute strike, but Shilla Alhassan calmed Kotoko nerves when he equalised four minutes from time.