Yassine
Chikhaoui headed an 88th winner, as Tunisia came from behind to beat the 2011
champions Zambia 2-1 in the African Cup of Nations Group B encounter in
Ebebiyin.
Georges Leekens men were
outplayed for the first hour, with Rainford Kalaba instrumental in the playmaker
role for the Chipolopolo, and took the lead on the hour mark through
Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka's emphatic finish.
Mayuka injured himself as
he attempted to convert another Kalaba pass seven minutes later, and his
team-mates switched off as he got lengthy treatment on the touchline, allowing
Ahmed Akaichi to level on 70 minutes following some lax Zambia defending from a
corner.
Tunisia then caught Zambia
on the break as Carthage Eagles captain Chikhaoui headed home an emphatic
winner from Youssef Msakni's inch-perfect cross.
Tunisia, with four points
from two matches, face DR Congo in Bata on Monday while Zambia will meet Cape
Verbe in Ebebiyin in their final group match.
KEY MOMENTS
14' – HITS THE POST! Zambia switch quickly
with Singuluma releasing Kalaba, but his shot clips the post with Mathlouthi
scrambling.
18' – CHANCE! Mweene clutches on to the
shot from Saihi following Munthali's header clear from Khazri's free-kick.
33' – CHANCE! Mathlouthi beats away
Kalaba's effort from the edge of the area following Mayuka's run and pass down
the left.
34' – CHANCE! Kalaba shoots just wide
after Maaloul makes a mess of a clearance under pressure from Kangwa.
38' – SAVE! Mathlouthi makes a
one-handed to save Sunzu's awkward backpost volley from Musonda's deep cross
from the right.
40'- CHANCE! Mayuka gets in between
two defenders in the Tunisia box to meet Musonda's cross from the left but his
header is weak and straight at Mathlouthi.
44' - WHAT A CHANCE! Ben Youssef fluffs a
clearance in the box, but Mayuka miskicks the volley and Mathlouthi gratefully
holds on.
60' - GOAL! Zambia 1-0
Tunisia. Kalaba
shows great technique to control the bouncing ball, the flicks the ball up at
the far post for Mayuka to slam the ball past Mathlouthi.
66' – CHANCE! Kalaba gets inside Bedoui
and crosses, and Mayuka is just unable to stretch to poke in at the far post.
70' - GOAL! Zambia 1-1
Tunisia.Akaichi
pokes home at the far post following a flicked corner and somehow it is 1-1.
81' - PENALTY SHOUT! Mbola clips Mancer in the
box but the referee waves play on, smiling. Did the Tunisia attacker dive too
much, even though there was contact?
88' - GOAL! Zambia 1-2
Tunisia. And
the Carthage Eagles may have nicked it here. Chikhaoui runs on to the cross
from Msakni ahead of Mbola and heads a bullet header past Mweene.
KEY STATS
Zambia have not won a
match in the tournament since lifting the trophy in 2012 - drawing four before
this defeat.
However, it was Zambia's
first defeat in the tournament in normal play since a group stage defeat to
Angola in 2010.
Tunisia are now unbeaten in
five Cup of Nations clashes with Zambia, drawing two and winning three,
including a shock 4-2 semi-final win in 1996.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Rainford Kalaba (Zambia) The
baby-faced 28-year-old is playing his club football in Congo after failing to
shine in Portugal following his 2008 signing for Sporting Braga. He may now be
back on European clubs' radars after an impressive first-half showing in
Tunisia, though he faded as the match went on.
PLAYER RATINGS
ZAMBIA: Mweene 7, Nkausu 6,
Munthali 6, Sunzu 6, Mbola 6, Mtonga 7, Musonda 7, Kalaba 8, Singuluma 6,
Kangwa 6, Mayuka 6. Subs: Mulenga 7, Mwanza 6,
TUNISIA: Mathlouthi 6, Ben
Youssef 6, Abdenour 6, Bedoui 7, Ragued 6, Msakni 6, Chikhaoui 7, Maaloui 7,
Khazri 6, Khalifa 6,Saihi 6. Subs: Moncer 7, Sassi 6, Younes 6.
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