Zambia and Tunisia played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group D encounter in Lubango on Wednesday night.
The Southern African side had the better of the play and may well rue a number of missed chances to claim all three points.
Zambia looked the more likely early on having made an attacking selection that promoted pushing forward on the Tunisians.
After some pressure that included a number of free-kicks in and around the Tunisian penalty-area, Herve Renard's side finally grabbed the goal their play deserved on 19 minutes.
James Chamanga picked up the ball just outside the area and slipped the pass in for Jacob Mulenga, who finished expertly past a stranded Aymen Mathlouthi in the Tunisian goal.
The goal seemed to lift the confidence of Chipolopolo further and they continued in the same vein, though they were perhaps a little anxious to get shots on goal with some wild efforts that were never troubling Mathlouthi.
But 10 minutes from half-time the Carthage Eagles appeared to wake up. Suddenly they had more of the ball and as such began to threaten the Zambian goal.
They levelled matters five minutes before the break as a surging run from young left-wing Youssef Msakni saw him pull the ball back for Zouheir Dhaouadi to sweep it home. It was a strange goal for Zambia to concede – they lost concentration at the back and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, who had barely had a save to make up to that point, had now conceded a goal.
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Tunisia made the faster start after the break and were unlucky not to go ahead when left-back Yassine Mikari struck a speculative 35-yard effort that hit the post.
They then produced the move of the match as they picked apart Zambia's defence with some fine passing, but Zouheir Dhaouadi's final effort was saved by the legs of Mweene.
Zambia had a fantastic opportunity to restore their lead when they worked three men open at the back post from a corner, but centre-back Kampamba Chintu snatched at his header and put it well wide.
Rainford Kalaba had an excellent opportunity as well as he once again found space at the back post, but couldn't direct his header goalwards.
Mulenga went desperately close as his left-footed drive from an acute angle went into the side-netting, while substitute Emmanuel Mayuka had the ball in the back of the net with his first touch of the game, but the goal was quite rightly disallowed for offside.
The final opportunity to win the match fell Zambia's way as Kalaba's vicious free-kick was beaten back into play by Mathlouthi, but Chris Katongo could not keep his header down from the rebound and the ball went over the bar.
The teams return to action on Sunday when Zambia face up to Cameroon, while Tunisia take on surprise Group D leaders Gabon.
