Zambia 0-2 Tunisia: Carthage Eagles outplay Chipolopolo in key World Cup qualifier

Tunisia remain unbeaten in their quest to clinch a ticket to the 2022 Fifa World Cup after securing a 2-0 win against Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday.

The North Africans took a deserved lead in the eighth minute through Wahbi Khazri before Anis Slimane struck the second in the 92nd minute to bag maximum points and remain the only unbeaten side in Group B after two rounds of matches.

Both teams went into the game having won their opening fixtures, Zambia beat Mauritania 2-1 at Stade Olympique in Nouakchott while the North Africans thrashed Equatorial Guinea 3-0 at Stade Olympique de Rades in Tunisia.

But heading into the game, the Chipolopolo were missing two of their key players – captain Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka – who returned to their respective clubs in England as they could have faced the mandatory 10-day quarantine if they had traveled to Zambia, which is listed as among the red zone countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mwepu, who features for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, had scored the opener against Mauritania while Daka, who turns out for Leicester City, set up the winning goal.

However, it was the Carthage Eagles, who started the game on the front foot. In the fifth minute Youssef Msakni combined well with Ben Slimane from the middle of the park and then set up Seifeddine Jaziri but his final touch after receiving the ball could not pose any danger for goalkeeper Chibwe Mwenya.

The visitors continued to pile pressure on the home team and it paid off in the eighth minute when Msakni was fouled inside the box as he prepared to shoot towards goal by Solomon Sakala and up stepped Wahbi Khazri, who sent keeper Mwenya the wrong way for the opening goal.

After the goal, the game resorted to midfield dominance and in the 21st minute, Zambia’s Lubambo Musonda almost pulled a goal back from a counter-attack but his ferocious effort was blocked by the Tunisia backline for a fruitless corner.

In the 31st minute, Chipolopolo created another chance, this time Dickson Chapa found himself with enough space inside the visitors’ box but he instead, placed the ball high over the bar.

Chapa was the first player to be booked by referee Otogo-Castane after a clumsy foul on Msakni and Edward Chilufya was also cautioned after a clumsy challenge on Ellyes Skhiri.

It was Zambia, who continued to dominate the game and in the 38th minute Prince Mumba, who scored the second goal when they beat Mauritania 2-1, tested goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha with a long-range effort which went over the bar.

Tunisia went into the break enjoying a 1-0 lead and in the 58th minute Zambia coach Beston Chambeshi made a double change, with Kelvin Kampamba replacing Chilufya, who did not have a good game, while Boyd Musonda gave way for former Simba SC midfielder Clatous Chama.

Zambia continued to attack for the equaliser and Chama was flagged offside in the 68th minute after being put through by Chapa and three minutes later, Kampamba combined well with Chama who forced a fine save from Mustapha.

After the missed chances, Zambia were made to pay after Slimane slipped in from the far post to sneak the ball past Mwenya and silence the 5, 000 fans, who had been allowed to attend the match by Caf under strict Covid-19 protocols.

The win pushed Tunisia to the top of the table with the maximum, six points from two matches, Zambia are second on three points, while Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea are third and fourth respectively without a point.

Zambia XI; 1. Mwenya Chibwe, 3. Benedict Chepeshi, 13. Roderick Kabwe (C), 15. Dominic Chanda, 5. Solomon Sakala, 21. Boyd Musonda, Dickson Chapa 19, 8. Lubambo Musonda, 14. Edward Chilufya, 10. Prince Mumba, Brian Mwila 22,

Subs: 18. Gregory Sanjase, 16. Lameck Siame, 17. Spencer Sautu, 20. Clatous Chama 17, 7. Kelvin Mubanga, 11. Felix Bulaya, 2. Simon Silwimba, 23. Tandi Mwape, 6. Benson Sakala, 4. Prosper Chiluya, 12. Harrison Chisala, 9. Jimmy Mukeya.

Tunisia: Farouk Ben Mustapha; Ali Maaloul, Dylan Bronn, Yessine Meriah, Montassar Talbi; Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi, Anis Ben Slimane; Youssef Msakni, Wahbi Khazri, Seifeddine Jaziri.