Equatorial Guinea peg back Zambia in Lusaka

Zambia's hopes of reaching Qatar 2022 were dealt another huge blow on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in a CAF second-round 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka. 

Chipolopolo hit the front midway through the second half but were pegged back with eight minutes of regulation time remaining. 

The result leaves the Southern African nation three points behind Nzalang Nacional and a further five adrift of Group B leaders Tunisia, who can stretch that lead to eight with victory over Mauritania later this evening. 

Zambia finally found the opener in the 65th minute of the match following a moment of individual brilliance from Fashion Sakala. The Rangers forward burst between two defenders and into the area, danced past another before firing an unstoppable shot into the back of the net. 

But having done all the hard work, Zambia went to sleep at a set-piece situation and were duly punished in the 82nd minute. Federico Bikoro shrugged off his marker before heading the ball home to earn the visitors a point. 

Victory for Tunisia in Nouakchott on Sunday evening will end Zambia's World Cup hopes. 

Zambia (0) 1 (F.Sakala 65') 
Equatorial Guinea (0) 1 (Bikoro 82') 

ZAMBIA: Chibwe; Chepeshi, Chiluya, Mwape, Chanda, Musonda, Bwalya, Chama (Phiri 89'), Banda (Kapumbu 80'), Mubanga (Chilufya 60'), Sakala, 

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Owono; Nsue (Nlavo 89'), Akapo, Anieboh, Coco, Meseguer, Ganet (Balboa 88'), Miranda (Belima 78'), Machin (Buyla 78'), Bikoro, Siafa (Obama 81').