Teenager Kader Bidimbou bagged a brace at the weekend as Congolese club AC Leopards stormed into the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals.

Needing a draw against Ivorian visitors ASEC Mimosas to be certain of progressing, the Congolese came from behind to triumph 4-1 in western city Dolisie.

The victory, coupled with Cameroonians Coton Sport drawing 1-1 at Malians Real Bamako, gave Leopards top place in Group A on the head-to-head rule.

Bidimbou, 18, has been a key factor as he scored a hat-trick at Coton on the previous matchday in the second-tier African club competition.

His six-goal season tally makes him joint leading Confederation Cup scorer with Ivorian Foba Stevens Koffi and Zimbabwean Kudakwashe Musharu

The Congolese scored six of Leopards' 11 goals in the mini-league stage with the other five coming from Cesaire Gandze, who also bagged a brace against ASEC.

Ouf-of-contention ASEC were trying to end a five-match win-less run and substitute Youssef Dao rocked Leopards with a goal five minutes before half-time.

Bidimbou, who was capped by Congo at the home players-only African Nations Championship in South Africa this year, responded by scoring twice within four minutes before half-time.

Rattled ASEC fell further behind a minute into the second half when Gandze scored the first of his two goals.

Finishing first meant shock 2012 Confederation Cup winners Leopards avoided powerful Egyptians Al-Ahly in the semi-finals.

The Congolese will face another Ivorian outfit, Sewe San Pedro, while Coton confront Ahly in a repeat of a 2013 CAF Champions League semi-final they lost on penalties.

Coton needed a win in Bamako to be sure of retaining first place, but were lucky to draw with Jean Joseph Kombous equalising three minutes into stoppage time.

Real, whose survival hopes hinged on a handsome win and Leopards losing, went ahead just before the break through leading scorer Badry Ali Sylla.

The head-to-head rule was also needed to determine the top Group B places with Ahly finishing above Sewe because they won and drew against the Ivorians.

Ahly finished the mini-league phase on a low note by only drawing 0-0 with more creative Tunisians Etoile Sahel in a spectator-less 75,000-seat Cairo Stadium.

Winners of a record 18 CAF titles, Ahly have been forced to play behind closed doors since supporters clashed with police after an African fixture last February.

Sewe trounced Zambians Nkana 3-0 on an artificial Abidjan pitch through goals from Hermann Kouao, Joseph Kameni and Roger Assale.

Victory completed a remarkable turnaround by the Ivorians, who were bottom of the table with just three points from a possible 12 after four matchdays.