African Cup of Nations - Zambia top group after Katongo winner

Sun, 29 Jan 18:59:00 2012

Christopher Katongo's solo effort earned Zambia a 1-0 win over hosts Equatorial Guinea and saw Zambia top African Cup of Nations Group A.

2012 African Cup of Nations Zambia - 0

Chances were at a premium throughout this match, from which Zambia needed just a point to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The game was crying out for a moment of quality, and it got it in the 67th minute when Katongo cut in from the left and drove his shot inside the near post.

The win means Zambia top Group A while Equatorial Guinea progress - but are likely to face tournament favourites Ivory Coast in the last eight.

The dramatic late winner against Senegal that saw Equatorial Guinea go into this game top of the group with a 100 per cent record meant that expectation was sky-high at a vibrant and noisy Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.

But they struggled to hit the same heights in this match and, following a host of half chances, Zambia should have taken the lead when Rainford Kalaba's driving run from midfield opened up Equatorial Guinea's defence.

But his decision to delay his pass to Katongo saw the move lose momentum, and the chance was spurned.

The hosts almost made them pay for that miss with a sweeping move forward just before half-time.

Zambia failed to clear their lines and the lively Juvenal slipped in Ivan Bolado with a precise through-ball, but Kennedy Mweene was swift off his line to smother the striker's effort.

But that was as close as Equatorial Guinea came as they lost their impetus in a second half that lacked momentum.

With chances few and far between, the game's much needed moment of inspiration came courtesy of Katongo, who rode two challenges before firing inside the bottom corner.

Despite the best efforts of Juvenal and Javier Balboa, Equatorial Guinea's subsequent attacks lacked conviction and Zambia escaped Malabo with a vital win that will see them face Ivory Coast, Angola or Sudan in the quarter-finals.

Michael Da Silva - on Twitter @mjdasilva / Eurosport

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. Great game i was...all the best mother­ zambia........................

    From Leslie, on Tue 31 Jan 0:28

  2. to zambia football team

    i am from kenya and i­ appreciate what the so call 'boys' r doing in­ eq. guinea good work.my concern also is the defense u r­ wonderful sunzu and imoonde,attack kalaba my age­ mate,katongo and mayuka u deserve to play in either­ arsenal or chelsea pple were thinking that u reach­ q.final in 2010 by chance but this is high time 2 show­ them that u r not boys.lastly to coach when u see the­ doing well don't quarrel at them so hard otherwise­ in the next match which probably it might b angola,­ they don't the definition of counter.and finaly­ suppress manucho

    From Laboso, on Mon 30 Jan 20:56

  3. kalaba ,katongo ,mayuka and the defense quit good am­ from kenya but i like ua game i know u will meet ­ Angola so the best is to play them counter and to hold­ manucho only success chipolopolo

    From kibettngeno, on Mon 30 Jan 20:21

  4. well done ba zed........u ve what it takes to go all­ the way to the finals and bring the cup home were its­ suppose to be ..........all the best of­ lucky.............go ba zed.....go ba zed......go ba­ zed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From William, on Mon 30 Jan 18:23

  5. Well done guyz you have made us proud..go go go­ Chipolopolo.

    From chance, on Mon 30 Jan 18:05

  6. Well DONE CHIPOLOPOLO!!!!This win is a SLAP on the face­ of the Equatorial Guinea coach who siad that Zambia was­ the weakkest team in Group A way before the tournament­ started!!!GO CHIPOLOPOLO GO!!!

    From Kay, on Mon 30 Jan 17:16

  7. its high time zambia showed the world,of its­ talent.congrats boys.

    From Wade, on Mon 30 Jan 15:37

  8. There is no any other better year than 2012 for the­ Chipolopolo lads to bring the AFCON trophy back­ home,
    go Zambia go yuo have all our support.

    From peter, on Mon 30 Jan 15:34

  9. am seeing the late Ian porterfield in Renards couching­ tactics which are going to bring the cup to Zambia,­ E.Guinea couch had said zambia were not a threat wait­ and see.....lets go zambia

    From Gabriel, on Mon 30 Jan 14:24

  10. Owayz a mistake to write off Chipolopolo, were iz­ senegal now???????????????????

    From William, on Mon 30 Jan 14:10

  11. Well done boys proud of you.

    From chiwala, on Mon 30 Jan 13:46

  12. Well done be Chipolopolo boys

    From COLLINS, on Mon 30 Jan 11:41

  13. the number of teams attending the nations cup need to­ increase to 24

    From Ejiro, on Mon 30 Jan 10:43

  14. We are proud of you Chipolopolo but isn''t time­ you changed your name to:Dare Devils!

    From Muzyuluka, on Mon 30 Jan 7:46

  15. eeee

    From Enock, on Mon 30 Jan 6:33

  16. Well done Guys keep the zambezi spirit alive........­ CHIPOLOPOLO YOU ARE GREAT the cup should come to­ zambia now.
    Kelvin Samba- Katima mulilo Namibia

    From sambashalila, on Mon 30 Jan 6:17

  17. Gud work done zambia

    From Kekesi Daniel, on Mon 30 Jan 6:05

  18. Gud work done zambia

    From Kekesi Daniel, on Mon 30 Jan 6:02

  19. this a gud moment for mother Zambia bravo to you guys

    From Peter, on Mon 30 Jan 5:01

  20. bravo zambia, you are alwys good
    noti k.

    From noti, on Mon 30 Jan 4:49
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