EBEBIYIN, Equatorial Guinea (AFP) — Tunisia put powercuts and flooding behind them to seize the Group B initiative yesterday at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
The Carthage Eagles went two points clear with one mini-league round left after a smash-and-grab 2-1 victory over wasteful Zambia at Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyin.
Captain Yassine Chikhaoui nodded the 89th-minute winner off a Youssef Msakni cross after Emmanuel Mayuka put Zambia ahead in the second half and Ahmed Akaichi levelled.
Akaichi, a late injury-induced inclusion in the squad, became the first player at the tournament to score two goals.
Victory was a welcome relief for the North Africans, who have eaten dinner by candlelight and slept four to a room after part of their hotel was flooded.
If the first match of the double-header was worth the entrance fee, spectators were let down by a dreary 0-0 draw later between Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A game without a clearcut chance rivalled the goalless stalemate between Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso 24 hours earlier, for the dullest to date in a largely exciting tournament.
Victory for Tunisia took the 2004 champions to the top of the table with four points, while Cape Verde and DR Congo have two each and identical goal differences.
And although shock 2012 champions Zambia lie last with a solitary point, they are still very much in contention for a top-two finish and a quarter-finals place.
The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) remain in Ebebiyin to face Cape Verde Monday while Tunisia and DR Congo clash in Bata at the same time.
Mayuka atoned for squandering two late first-half chances by slamming a half-volley past goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi on 59 minutes. But just as Senegal and title favourites Algeria did three days ago, Tunisia clawed back to snatch maximum points. A corner was nodded across the goalmouth and unmarked Akaichi stabbed the ball in at the far post.
Zambia, who would not have been flattered by a two-goal half-time advantage, were caught napping at the death as Chikhaoui nodded past goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
Despite winning, Tunisia coach George Leekens continues to downplay his side after insisting ahead of the game that they were not group favourites.
Equatorial Guinea were last-minute replacements as hosts for Morocco, who wanted the tournament postponed over fears that visiting supporters could bring the deadly Ebola virus into the country.
Outstanding Zambia winger and captain Rainford Kalaba, who tormented the Tunisians during the first half, slammed his team after a third Cup of Nations loss to the Eagles.
Coach Honour Janza was equally unhappy as Zambia stretched to six the Cup of Nations games they have played over four years without a win.
Cape Verde came close to snatching a late winner over DR Congo in a dour match that had goalless draw written all over it long before the final whistle.
But veteran goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba came to the rescue with two reflex saves from a corner, followed by the brave block of a Heldon shot.
DR Congo lost captain Youssef Mulumbu midway through the first half with a groin injury, who must undergo tests.
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Tunisia put powercuts, floodings behind them to beat misfiring Gambia
58-years-old MP for Sidi Bouzid, birthplace of Arab SpringLeader of a small left-wing party, the Popular MovementPromoted pan-Arabism and socialismFar lower profile then Chokri Belaid, who was assassinated in FebruaryPractising Muslim, unlike Mr BelaidCritic of government, but also had many friends in the main Islamist party, EnnahdaHis wife blames Ennahda for his killing; others disagree.After the ceremony, anti- and pro-government demonstrators gathered outside parliament buildings in central Tunis. Reports say police used tear gas to disperse them.