Tunisia sneak late victory against Zambia
January 22, 2015
Tunisia scored a winner one minute from time to steal the three points off Zambia and earn their first victory at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Yassine Chikhaoui's goal in the 89th minute gave Tunisia a 2-1 win in Group B.
Zambia, the 2012 champions, had taken the lead when Emmanuel Mayuka scored on the hour mark, slashing home inside the box. Ahmed Akaichi equalised ten minutes later for Tunisia before Chikhaoui's nodded in a late winner.
Tunisia now have four points in Group B, while Zambia have one point from two games. The defeat is Zambia's first in 12 Africa Cup of Nation games - their last defeat came back in 2010 against Cameroon.
Bore draw
The late game on Thursday saw the other two teams in Group B - Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo - contest a fairly tepid 0-0 draw. In a game where DR Congo were perhaps favorites, it was actually Cape Verde who will feel aggrieved not to have won.
They might well have done were it not for a strong goalkeeping performance by DR Congo's keeper Robert Kidiaba. A fine low save on the hour mark was one thing, but a double save six minutes from time proved pivotal. A minute later, the tournament's oldest player (39) saved well in a one-on-one situation to deny Cape Verde a famous upset.
DR Congo's only real effort of note hit the side netting and the team are now sweating over the fitness of captain Youssouf Mulumbu after he was forced off with a groin injury in the first half.
That result leaves Tunisia two points clear at the top of Group B.
jh/msh (dpa)