Zambia, Cameroon advance to quarters
BENGUELA, Angola (AP) — Zambia reached the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations with a 2-1 win over Gabon yesterday.
Zambia secured their first win in the tournament with goals from Rainford Kalaba and James Chamanga and will next face Nigeria after claiming first place in Group D.
Substitute Fabrice Do Marcolino pulled one back for Gabon.
Zambia finished tied with four points with second-placed Cameroon, who drew 2-2 with Tunisia. Gabon also finished with four points, but missed out on goals scored between the three teams. Tunisia had three points in the closest group of the tournament.
There was some confusion after both games ended, with African Football Confederation officials saying Cameroon finished first thanks to a better head-to-head record following their 3-2 win over Zambia earlier in the competition.
But according to CAF regulations, FIFA later confirmed that Zambia topped the group because they scored more goals against the two other sides.
CAF had yet to issue its official Group D standings.
Zambia and Nigeria will meet in Lubango on January 25, while Cameroon will face two-time defending champions Egypt in Benguela on the same day.
Gabon players thought they had qualified and were celebrating after the match until they were told they were eliminated.
Knowing that only a win would send them into the knockout stage, Zambia’s players quickly put the Gabon defence under pressure.
Felix Katongo created Zambia’s first chance with a 30-metre free-kick that was poorly cleared by Gabon’s defenders in the 10th minute, allowing Katongo to latch on to the rebound, but goalkeeper Didier Ovono saved the shot.
Striker Jacob Mulenga came close for Zambia a minute later after being set up by Chamanga, but dragged his shot wide from a tight angle.
Following a team move, Mulenga passed to Christopher Katongo but the Zambia playmaker fired wide in the 20th. Not long after, Kalaba missed with a free-kick from the edge of the area.
Zambia broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Katongo set up Kalaba, who coolly slotted home.
