JOHANNESBURG, May 11 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's ASEC Abidjan qualified for the group phase of the African Champions League for a record ninth time on Sunday after a 1-1 draw at Olympique Khouribga in Morocco.

ASEC progressed to the last eight on the away goals rule after a 0-0 draw in Abidjan in the first leg of the tie last month. ASEC have missed out on the league phase just three times since the new format of the competition was introduced in 1997.

The Ivorians are joined by two other hardened campaigners, five-time winners Al Ahli and Zamalek of Egypt as well as TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have won the continent's top club competition on three previous occasions.

Last year's semi-finalists Al Hilal of Sudan also booked their place in the league despite losing 1-0 to South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on Sunday. Al Hilal went through 4-3 on aggregate.

Al Ahli beat Platinum Stars of South Africa 2-0 in Cairo with second half goals from Emad Moteab and the Angolan international Flavio. The Cairo giants had suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat in the first leg against the newcomers.

InterClube of Angola beat Zamalek 2-1 with a late winner from the penalty spot but Zamalek had a handy 3-0 lead from the first leg.

TP Mazembe overcame Al Ittihad of Libya 2-0 in Lubumbashi with a 10th-minute penalty from Bomboko Ngoy and a 61st minute winner from Luyeye Mvete. It ensured a 3-2 aggregate triumph.

The winners go into the group draw on Sunday, being held in Yaounde, Cameroon, while the eight weekend losers drop down into the African Confederation Cup.

They include holders Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, who suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe's Dynamos on Saturday. (Editing by Miles Evans)