Zambia end Sudan's dream run to reach Africa Cup semis

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 4, 2012, 20:14 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Zambia on Saturday became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations as they put an end to Sudan's dream run with a 3-0 victory.

Stoppila Sunzu, captain Christopher Katongo and James Chamanga scored the goals in front of a small crowd of 2,000 in the Equatorial Guinean town of Bata.

Sudan ended the quarter-final game with 10 men after Saif Masawi was sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute.

The team from southern Africa, who last went through to the semi-finals in 1996, will play their semi-final in Bata on Wednesday against the winner of Sunday's quarter-final between Ghana and Tunisia.

Zambian coach Herve Renard was not very complimentary about their opponents after the match. 'Sudan can make you go to sleep with the way they play, but we were expecting it,' he told journalists.

'We hope now to go all the way to the final on the 12th. Ghana are the big favourites now in my opinion but they are a team we'll be prepared for if they win through. Tunisia are a formidable team too.'

His Sudanese counterpart, Mohamed Abdallah, said that the competition had upped their experience. 'We achieved our objectives and we consider this a success, even though we lost today.'

Zambia dominated throughout the game but were also frustrated by Sudanese goalkeeper Salim Akram.

Sunzu opened the scoring in the 15th minute when the TP Mazembe midfielder headed a free-kick home unmarked.

Akram pulled off good saves from Chisamba Lungu and Rainford Kalaba to keep his side in the game.

The Sudanese, whose last victory at the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of this competition dated back to 1970 when they won the trophy at home, had a bit more of the match in the second half, but failed to create chances.

Instead, Katongo doubled Zambia's lead in the 66th minute after a penalty when he was brought down by Masawi, who received his second booking for the foul.

Akram pulled off a good save from the initial kick, but the ball fell back to Katongo, who made no mistake at the second attempt.

There was no coming back from there for Sudan, and Zambian substitute James Chamanga, from Chinese club Dalian Shide, added insult to injury shortly before the end when he side-footed the ball past Akram.

Co-host Equatorial Guinea face tournament favorites Ivory Cost in Saturday's other quarter-final. The winner plays against the other hosts Gabon or Mali, who meet in the second Sunday game.