Football
2015 Africa Nations Cup, Group Stage 2015
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PA Sport 9y

Cape Verde, Zambia bow out after goalless draw

The point from a goalless draw at the Estadio de Ebebiyin was not enough to secure Cape Verde a place in the last eight of the African Nations Cup, while 2012 champions Zambia also bowed out.

Had Tunisia beaten the Democratic Republic of Congo in the other Group B decider, Cape Verde would have progressed with their three points from three draws, but it instead finished 1-1 in Bata and DR Congo therefore reached the quarterfinals based on goals scored.

Heavy rain did nothing to aid Zambia's cause in the second half and the nation that claimed their first title with victory over Ivory Coast three years ago finished bottom of their pool in 2015.

Zambia did start brightly, however, and they went on to dominate the opening half-hour.

Evans Kangwa forced Vozinha into a parried save before Rainford Kalaba drilled the ball over the ball and Given Singuluma made the Cape Verde goalkeeper fumble his long-range effort.

In the 24th minute Kalaba missed a fine chance to slot past Vozinha and the Blue Sharks promptly wrested control of proceedings before half-time.

Carlos Lima's volley sailed over but Garry Rodrigues went much closer with a drilled effort that fizzed past a post.

With one minute remaining before the break, Rodrigues steered a free-kick onto Toni Varela's head in the six-yard box but the Excelsior midfielder could not quite hit the target.

Following the restart the teams were not only battling against each other but against ever worsening conditions in Ebebiyin, with a downpour transforming the pitch into a boggy wetland in places.

It was not until the hour mark that Zambia's Chisamba Lungu delivered a free-kick for Kalaba to rifle over the bar and a few minutes later Kennedy Mweene tipped Djaniny's curler around the post.

On 78 minutes Kangwa worked himself into a great position to test Vozinha but mishit his shot and spooned the ball wide.

With time down it looked like Zambia might snatch a dramatic winner and steal through to the quarter-finals at the expense of DR Congo, but substitute Mukuka Mulenga slammed wide late on.

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