Cameroonian Taddeus Nkeng was the match-winner as Club Africain of Tunisia edged TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 on Sunday in a clash of former African champions.
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Nkeng struck in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half and his goal took the Tunis club formed in 1920 to the group stage 2-1 on aggregate.
Called 'The Beloved' by supporters, Club Africain were the first Tunisian club to be crowned African champions, defeating Villa SC of Uganda 7-3 overall in the 1991 final.
Club African have underachieved since in the premier African club competition, failing to get past the quarterfinals in nine appearances before this season.
They are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2019, and will know on Wednesday after the group draw in Cairo which three clubs they will face in a mini-league.
Five-time African champions Mazembe paid the price for failing to build a first leg lead in Lubumbashi last weekend. They took a first half lead only to concede just one minute later.
Mazembe officials accused Club Africain of disturbing the sleep of players and coaches before the return match by setting off fireworks and firecrackers outside the team hotel in Tunis.
In another high-profile clash, Maghreb Fes of Morocco beat former champions ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Abidjan to secure a group place for the first time.
Held 1-1 at home last weekend, Fes broke the second leg deadlock when Congo Brazzaville international Christopher Ibayi netted after 62 minutes.
Kevin Bakare equalised 11 minutes later to bring the clubs level on the night and on aggregate.
With a penalty shootout looming, Khalid Baba netted in the seventh minute of added time to win the match and the tie.
Both Moroccan challengers have qualified for the group stage as Renaissance Berkane eliminated Star Sport Academy of Sierra Leone on Saturday.
There will be no Ivory Coast club in the draw, however. After ASEC fell, compatriots San Pedro lost 2-0 in Mauritania against Nouadhibou, who progressed 3-2 on aggregate.