Ten-man Chipolopolo deny Taifa Stars first Afcon win

Zambia grabbed a late goal to draw 1-1 with Tanzania in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group F match at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San-Pédro on Sunday night.

The draw saw Chipolopolo remain third on the group standings and they will book their spot in the Round of 16 if they secure a win over Morocco on 24 January in what will be their last group stage match.

Tanzania, on the other hand, remained at the bottom of the standings and they can only progress to the knockout phase if they defeat DR Congo on 24 January and the other results go their way.

The Taifa Stars got off to a bright start as they surged forward in numbers in the early stages. They managed to break the deadlock when Simon Msuva netted to hand Tanzania a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute with Mbwana Samatta providing the assist.

Chipolopolo responded by applying pressure on the Taifa Stars, but Zambia were handed another blow when they were reduced to 10 players in the 44th minute. Their captain Roderick Kabwe was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the game and the score was 1-0 to Tanzania at halftime.

The 2012 Afcon champions were desperate to level matters after the restart with Patson Daka leading their attack. The Leicester City striker unleashed a rasping shot which was saved by goalkeeper Aishi Manula in the 62nd minute.

However, Daka was not to be denied in the 88th minute as the lethal striker headed home Clatous Chama to level matters. The late goal ensured that the encounter ended in a 1-1 stalemate with the two teams sharing the spoils.

Zambia (0) 1 (Daka 88')

Tanzania (1) 1 (Msuva 11')

ZAMBIA: Mulenga, Chepeshi (Chaiwa 87'), Sunzu, F. Musonda, Kabwe, Kapumbu (L Musonda 46'), L. Banda (Chilufya 87'), Kangwa (K. Musonda 76'), E. Banda, F. Sakala (Chama 76'), Daka.

TANZANIA: Manula, Mnoga (Mwaikenda 46'), Nondo, Bacca, Husseini, Mkami (Yahya 70'), Salum (Abraham 59'), Yasin; Kibu (M'Mombwa 69'), Msuva, Samatta.