Zambia secured a valuable 1-1 draw against Mali in a Group A encounter at the King Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Monday.
The Chipolopolo looked set for defeat until Patson Daka scored in additional time, rising high to connect a cross from Mathews Banda.
The draw leaves Zambia with one point as they turn their attention to Comoros, who suffered a 2-0 defeat to hosts Morocco.
The resilient performance earned praise from Chipolopolo Boys midfielder Emmanuel Banda. “Hard-fought point. Each point is very important in the tournament. Well done, boys. We build it from here,” Banda said.
Meanwhile, former Chipolopolo Boys winger Clifford Mulenga offered tactical advice to wide players Fashion Sakala and Lameck Banda.
“Fashion Sakala and Lameck Banda should encourage each other to change wings when the going gets tough. They are both very one-way wingers, and once a defender picks that up, you are in his pocket fast, as we saw this afternoon (Monday),” Mulenga said.
He added that predictability limited Zambia’s attacking threat from wide areas.
“Defenders don’t like wingers that go inside and then outside. There was no dangerous cross from them the whole game, and that should not sit well with them. I hope they can do better in the next game.”
Zambia will next face Comoros on Thursday, with Moses Sichone aiming for a win before meeting Morocco in the final group match.
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