Zambia limp out of AFCON after draw with Cape Verde

Zambia have bowed out of the African Cup of Nations following a goalless draw with Cape Verde in a game in which the weather will be the main talking point, reports Zambian Eye’s Sports Correspondent.

The 2012 champions exited the competition bottom of Group B on two points, five behind Group winners Tunisia and another one point adrift of DR Congo who finished second to qualify at the expense of Zambia’s opponents Cape Verde on account of goals scored.

A victory would have been enough for either side to progress to the quarter-finals, but they lacked the quality needed to reach the last eight and Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia progressed following their 1-1 draw.

Evans Kangwa and Mukuka Mulenga had clear opportunities to hand Janza’s side victory late on, but both men were unable to finish.

At one point it looked as though the game would be stopped due to torrential rain as puddles developed on the pitch but both sides battled on until the rain stopped.

The onus was on Zambia to get on the front foot from the off, but neither side looked threatening in the opening stages.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha breathed a sigh of relief when he spilled Given Singuluma’s long-range drive and Kangwa was wrongly adjudged to be offside as he followed it up.

Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba then had half a chance to open the scoring when he was given too much space in the penalty area 23 minutes in, but his tame shot was deflected wide.

Cape Verde’s Garry Rodrigues showed a sharp turn of pace to get down the inside right 10 minutes before the break, then let himself down with a lack of composure by firing off target with a poor finish.

It was Cape Verde who finished the half strongly, though, with Zambia enduring two alarming moments just before the break.

Toni Varela got his header all wrong when he was left unmarked from a Rodrigues free-kick. Winger Rodrigues then delivered a side-footed set-piece which somehow evaded everybody and went out for a goal-kick.

Conditions deteriorated at the start of the second half, with standing water appearing on the pitch as the rain continued to lash down, preventing the ball from rolling in certain areas of the pitch.

The game was allowed to continue, though, and substitute Djaniny forced a save from Kennedy Mweene with a long-range drive that bounced awkwardly in front of the Zambia goalkeeper.

Kangwa resorted to desperate measures when he took a dive in the penalty area and was shown a yellow card 15 minutes from time.

The same player was unable to make contact with Chisamba Lungu’s cross three minutes later as Zambia pressed for a winner, while Mulenga also spurned a golden opportunity when firing wide from close range in stoppage time.