Cape Verde Islands and the Democratic Republic of Congo played to a goalless draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Ebebiyin on Thursday.
Both sides still have a chance of getting through to the quarter-finals but for most of this game, they went through the motions.
The first half was a frenetic midfield battle that did not materialise into goals.
The Blue Sharks were the better side going forward but they were not quite able to create the opportunities. The DRC, meanwhile, were not much better and also had to contend with what looked like a hamstring injury to their captain Yousuf Mulumbu.
In the days other match, a late strike by Yassine Chikhaoui helped Tunisia stun Zambia with a come-from-behind 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations victory.
Both sides still have a chance of getting through to the quarter-finals but for most of this game, they went through the motions.
The first half was a frenetic midfield battle that did not materialise into goals.
The Blue Sharks were the better side going forward but they were not quite able to create the opportunities. The DRC, meanwhile, were not much better and also had to contend with what looked like a hamstring injury to their captain Yousuf Mulumbu.
In the days other match, a late strike by Yassine Chikhaoui helped Tunisia stun Zambia with a come-from-behind 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations victory.
Chipolopolo only had themselves to blame for not having sorted out the game in the first half, where they fluffed countless chances.
As good as Emmanuel Mayuka was, he was the guilty party as he seemed shocked at the amount of quality ball he was receiving from his captain Rainford Kalaba.
After Zambia weathered Tunisia's early storm, where they were also lucky not to concede an early penalty when Stoppila Sunzu handled the ball in the box, they gradually found their stride.
Kalaba missed the first opportunity of the game when his 16th-minute shot went narrowly wide of Aymen Mathlouthi's goal.
The pressure was exerted throughout the first half, but Mayuka's profligacy came to the fore, twice tapping tamely at Mathlouthi.
Zambia finally got on the board in the 60th minute when Mayuka scored, making sure Kalaba's work was not wasted.
The southern Africans continued to miss chances and they were punished in the 70th minute when Ahmed Akaichi tapped in from a corner to level things up for the north Africans.
And their comeback was completed a minute from time when captain Chikhaoui powered a header past Kennedy Mweene.
As good as Emmanuel Mayuka was, he was the guilty party as he seemed shocked at the amount of quality ball he was receiving from his captain Rainford Kalaba.
After Zambia weathered Tunisia's early storm, where they were also lucky not to concede an early penalty when Stoppila Sunzu handled the ball in the box, they gradually found their stride.
Kalaba missed the first opportunity of the game when his 16th-minute shot went narrowly wide of Aymen Mathlouthi's goal.
The pressure was exerted throughout the first half, but Mayuka's profligacy came to the fore, twice tapping tamely at Mathlouthi.
Zambia finally got on the board in the 60th minute when Mayuka scored, making sure Kalaba's work was not wasted.
The southern Africans continued to miss chances and they were punished in the 70th minute when Ahmed Akaichi tapped in from a corner to level things up for the north Africans.
And their comeback was completed a minute from time when captain Chikhaoui powered a header past Kennedy Mweene.
By: Farai Diza
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