Ethiopia produces AFCON 2013 shock, held defending champions Zambia

Antelopes striker Adane celebrates equaliser (Photo Credit: BBC)

After a 31-year absence from the continent’s biggest football competition, the “Walya Antelopes” of Ethiopia held the 2012 African champions, the “Chipolopolo” or the Copper Bullets of Zambia to a shocking 1-1 draw on Monday.

 

The two teams went head-to-head at the Mbombela Stadium in South Africa where the 2013 finals is hosted with Zambia regarded favourites over a seemingly “less troublesome” Ethiopian side.

Zambia took the lead just minutes before half-time through Collins Mbesuma who was put through by Isaac Chansa.

Ethiopia’s goalkeeper Lama was sent off for a foul on Mbesuma after teammate Saladain Said missed a penalty that could have given them the lead.

Zambia managed to play their game but the Ethiopians put too much fight regardless of being a goal and a man down.

A beautiful interchange of passes at the edge of and into the penalty box gave Antelopes striker Adane Girma a chance to level the score with a powerful shot that hit the near post and roll into the net.

Perhaps, pundits are free to classify the result as the shock of the tournament so far.

Burkina Faso's Alain Traoré celebrates his last-minute equaliser against Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Supper Eagles were also held to a pulsating 1-1 draw by the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the late kick-off at 1800GMT at the Mbombela stadium. 

The Stallions left it late to punish their West Africans rivals, the Supper Eagles.

Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike opened the scoring but Burkina Faso's Alain Traore's last-minute gasp means the game ended in a draw.

Written by Modou S. Joof

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