Zambia fire blanks and exit Afcon

Kennedy-Mweene-ReactsZambia are out of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup after a scoreless draw against Cape Verde in their final Group B match in Ebebiyin.

It is the second successive tournament that the 2012 champions have been eliminated from the Africa Cup.

Their exit is even more sour as Zambia depart from Equatorial Guinea where they launched their path to victory in 2012.

Zambia finished bottom of Group B on two points, five behind group winners Tunisia and two adrift of DR Congo who pipped Cape Verde to second place on goal difference.

Meanwhile, the first half of this encounter was a hot and cold affair with both sides creating very little chances.

Cape Verde though were lively through their winger Heldon who whipped in cross after cross into Zambia’s area.

But the quality of his crosses was equalled by the class of defender Stopilla Sunzu whose interceptions and gritty tackling were too much for Cape Verde’s attackers.

Zambia on the other hand had two great chances in the first half with Evans Kangwa’s 15th minute effort going marginally wide after he beat Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias.

Chipolopolo captain Rainford Kalaba too had a go at Dias but saw his volley in the 23rd minute tipped out for a for corner.

Cape Verde’s best effort came on 45 minutes when Garry Rodrigues’ grass-cutter free kick rolled across the face of Zambia goal with no one committed to clearing it from Chipolopolo or putting the final touch by the Blue Sharks.

The second half was blighted by a heavy tropical storm that drenched any hopes of sparks in front of goal from both sides.

Cape Verde had a couple of half-hearted chances through Ordair and Heldon but Kennedy Mweene was alert to the danger.

Zambia on the other hand could have snatched a dramatic winner in stoppage time through Mukuka Mulenga.

However the 82nd minute substitute fired a through ball from Kalaba across the face of goal to summarize Chipolopolo’s story at this year’s tournament.

Zambia 0

Cape Verde 0

TEAMS

Zambia: Mweene,Munthali (Malama 56′), Nkausu,Sunzu,Mbola,Mtonga,Musonda (Ngoma 70), Kalaba,Kangwa,Singuluma (Mukuka 82’), Chisamba

Cape Verde: Dias,Tavares,Valera,Monteiro (Fortes 72),Heldon, Rodrigues,Admilson, Rocha,Lima, Mendes(Semedo 56),Tavares (Miranda 78)

SuperSport.com

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