Zambia Strike Late To Hold Mali In AFCON Opener

Leicester City striker Patson Daka headed home in injury time as Zambia held Mali to a 1-1 draw in their opening Africa Cup of Nations game on Monday.

Daka, who has scored just once for Leicester in the English Championship this season, threw himself at a Mathews Banda cross in the second added minute at the end of the game to earn the Chipolopolo an unlikely point.

Mali dominated much of the Group A encounter but saw El Bilal Toure squander a penalty late in the first half at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.

Toure’s kick was saved by Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza after Banda had been penalised following a VAR check for catching Nene Dorgeles in the box.

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Mali did go in front just after the hour mark when Auxerre’s Lassine Sinayoko fired home at the second attempt from close range following a corner.

However, Daka’s late effort denied Mali and the result will suit hosts Morocco, who beat Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s first match in the same section on Sunday.

Morocco and Mali meet next in Rabat on Friday, while Zambia — who have now failed to win any of their 10 AFCON matches since lifting the trophy in 2012 — face Comoros.

AFP