JOHANNESBURG, July 27, 2014 (AFP) — Zambian sports minister Chishimba Kambwili confronted the referee after local club Nkana pipped Tunisians Etoile Sahel 4-3 this weekend in a CAF Confederation Cup thriller.

The burly 45-year-old politician was unhappy with some decisions of Ethiopian Tessema Weyesa, who needed a police escort from the pitch in the central city of Kitwe.

It was a strange reaction by Kambwili given the club he was supporting triumphed to get back into contention for a top-two Group B finish and a semi-finals slot.

In a remarkable coincidence, the first meeting of the clubs during June also ended 4-3 with Etoile coming from behind three times to win in the Mediterranean resort of Sousse.

Egyptians Al-Ahly, winners of a record 18 CAF titles, overcame Ivorian visitors Sewe San Pedro 1-0 in Cairo to build a three-point lead in the four-club mini-league.

The result gave Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido, 45, a winning CAF debut at the start of a two-year contract.

Ahly have eight points with two rounds left, Etoile five, Nkana and Sewe three in Group B of the second-tier CAF club competition.

There was plenty to entertain the capacity 5,000 Nkana Stadium crowd before the sports minister took centre stage.

Youssef Mouihbi converted an early penalty for Etoile only for Nkana to level through Ronald Kampamba and go ahead when Festus Mbewe scored.

The lead lasted just four minutes before Sofiane Moussa equalised with a superb goal to leave the clubs level at 2-2 going into the break.

Knowing only a victory would keep them in contention for a last-four place, Nkana went for the jugular from the second-half kick-off and received a two-goal reward.

Simon Bwalya and Christopher Munthali were the scorers and as the hour mark passed the Zambians were sitting on a two-goal cushion.

They retained that advantage until five minutes into stoppage time when Mouihbi converted his second penalty, but could not prevent Etoile suffering their first group-stage reverse.

Midfielder Walid Soliman returned from a long injury lay-off to score off a fourth-minute penalty and keep eight-time African champions Ahly on track to win the group.

It was the usual story for the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ as numerous scoring chances were squandered at a spectator-less Air Defence Stadium.

Egyptian authorities have barred supporters from CAF club fixtures involving Ahly and Cairo neighbours Zamalek since clashes with police this year.

Cameroonians Coton Sport are virtually assured of a semi-finals place from Group A after early goals set up a 2-1 home win over Ivorians ASEC Mimosas in Garoua.

Stephane Kingou and Niger star Daouda Kamilou scored within six minutes of the kick-off and Foba Stevens Koffi pulled one back before half-time.

Congolese AC Leopards, surprise winners of the 2012 Confederation Cup, host Malians Real Bamako later Sunday in the same group.