User:Amakuru/Draft 10

Zambia
Zambia were drawn in Group A of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, alongside Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal. Their first match was against Senegal at the Estadio de Bata, on the tournament's opening day, 21 January 2012. In a result described in The Guardian as a "surprise", Zambia won the game 2–1. They went 2–0 up in the first 20 minutes, with goals by Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba. Dame N'Doye pulled a goal back for Senegal with 16 minutes remaining, but Zambia were able to hold on for the win. They returned to Bata on 25 January for their second game against Libya, played on a waterlogged pitch following heavy rain. Libya took the lead early in the match through Ahmed Saad Osman, before Zambia equalised on the half-hour mark through Mayuka. Osman scored again early in the second half, but Zambia equalised for a second time through Christopher Katongo to secure a 2–2 draw. Zambia's third game was against co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo in which they recorded a 1–0 win, Katongo scoring on 67 minutes in a game with few other changes. Zambia thus qualified for the next round as group winners.

Zambia's quarter-final opponents were Sudan, on 4 February in Bata. Zambia took the lead on 15 minutes through a Stophira Sunzu free kick. Midway through the second half, Sudanese defender Saif Eldin Ali Idris conceded a penalty and was sent off when he fouled Rainford Kalaba in the penalty area. Katongo took the penalty and it was initially saved by goalkeeper Akram El Hadi but Katongo doubled Zambia's lead from the rebound. James Chamanga sealed a 3–0 victory in the 86th minute, giving Zambia their first semi-final appearance since 1996. Their opponents in that match were Ghana, who had reached the final and also earned a World Cup quarter-final in 2010]] and were expected by pundits to win the game.