LEAD: Zambia and Libya share spoils on wet pitch

Jan 25, 2012, 21:10 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Zambia and Libya played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in a rain delayed match at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

The group A match started with a 75-minute delay after torrential downpours in Bata made the pitch unplayable and it had hardly improved when the game started.

Large areas of the field were no-go zones as the ball simply stopped dead in the large puddles.

That not withstanding, the disappointingly small crowd were treated to an entertaining match, in which Zambia, who had stunned Senegal in their opening match, twice had to come from behind.

Zambian coach Herve Renard said the match should not have gone ahead and described the decision as 'unbelievable'.

He told reporters that he was disappointed that the referee had given his go-ahead. 'It's unbelievable to play on a pitch like this. It was kick and rush this afternoon, not football.

'I may not believe in this type of football but I'm proud of my team because we came back twice,' he said.

It took Libya just six minutes to get onto the score board as Ahmed Saad Osman was sent through by Walid Elkhatroushi. The Tunisian-based forward went into the area, before side-footing the ball past goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

A beautiful right-footed volley from Emmanuel Mayuka brought the Zambians back into the game in the 32nd minute and ensured the teams went into the change-rooms with all to play for in the second half.

The north Africans again had the better start after the break as conditions had improved slightly once organizers had used construction vehicles during half-time to clear the puddles.

Just two minutes after the restart, Osman was again sent into space - this time by substitute Ihab Albusaifi - and the 32-year-old went around his marker before scoring.

Zambian captain Christopher Katongo equalized for the second time for the team from southern Africa in the 54th minute with a header after Mayuka had crossed with an overhead kick.

Both sides then continued going forward in search of further goals, but conditions had obviously taken their toll on players as they visibly tired.

Libya had one final chance in injury time though as Ahmed Zuway forced Mweene into a good save with a shot from just within the area.

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea take on Senegal in the later match in the same stadium.