A goalless draw was enough to see Recreativo Libolo of Angola secure the last spot in the African Confederation Cup quarter-finals.
But they now face holders TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo in September's knockout round.
Libolo needed only a point at home to Smouha of Egypt on Sunday to ensure progress from Group C, which had been cast into turmoil after leaders Al Hilal Obayed were disqualified when FIFA suspended Sudan on Thursday.
It left Zesco United with a bye at the weekend, despite Al Hilal Obayed already being in Ndola for their top-of-the table clash.
It also meant Zesco finished top, as they were given a 3-0 walkover the Sudanese in the last game. The competition regulation says: "If a team withdraws after participating in all the matches in the first half of the group matches, the remaining matches to be played in the said group are lost by penalty three goals to nil."
Smouha had to win to usurp Libolo from second place, and took the game to their hosts in Calulo with the Angolan club's goalkeeper Landu pulling off a string of fine saves to thwart the Egyptians.
In the last 15 minutes strikers Ahmed Raouf and midfielders Islam Mohareb and Amr El-Menoufi wasted chances for Smouha, who also had a late penalty turned down in stoppage time.
Mazembe, meanwhile, snatched a goal in the last 10 minutes of their home game on Saturday to see off Horoya of Guinea 2-1. Had Nathan Sinkala not scored they would have been out of the competition, but in the end topped Group D with South Africa's SuperSport United second.
SuperSport were threatening to wrack up a record score as they went 4-0 up at halftime against hapless CF Mounana of Gabon, but the visitors scored the only goal of second half through their Ghanaian import Ellesah Mensah.
It meant both CS Sfaxien and Club Africain scored the biggest wins of the last weekend of group matches. Both were 4-0 winners to secure top place in their respective groups.
Sfaxien topped Group B with Saturday's thumping of Mouloudia Alger, which saw Firas Chaouat scoring in the opening three minutes. He grabbed a second with two minutes to go and there were two more stoppage-time goals.
On Friday night, Club Africain beat Kampala Capital City Authority with a double from French born Manoubi Haddad and one each from Saber Khalifa, the former Olympique Marseille striker, and Moataz Zemzemi.
In the last eight SuperSport play Zesco; Club African take Mouloudia Alger and CS Sfaxien are up against FUS Rabat.