Given Singuluma’s stunning strike inside two minutes was not enough for Zambia as they played to a 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening African Nations Cup Group B clash in Ebebiyín on Sunday.
Singuluma, who plays for top DR Congo side TP Mazembe, latched onto a poor clearance early in the game to fire the ball into the back of the net from just outside the area.
It was just the early goal that Zambia needed to settle their nerves, but the Congolese took control of the game after that, having the lion’s share of the possession and shots at goal.
They equalised midway through the second half when Crystal Palace forward Yannick Bolasie finished a quick counter-attack to blast the ball home from the edge of the area.
A point each represents a steady start for both sides in the competition and neither team will be unduly unhappy, though DR Congo might have expected to make more of their superiority.
Zambia’s fast start came after a mistake from veteran DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba, whose limp clearance did not have the necessary distance and fell to his clubmate Singuluma.
The Chipolopolo midfielder picked his spot and rifled the ball into the back of the unguarded net.
The Congolese almost fashioned an equaliser on eight minutes when another goalkeeper error, this time from Zambian Kennedy Mweene saw him spill the ball into the path of Dieumerci Mbokani, who fired over from eight yards when he really should have hit the target.
Zambia skipper Rainford Kalaba saw his 30-yard free-kick well-saved by Kidiaba, while Bolasie forced a good stop from Mweene.
Bolasie then saw his deflected free-kick sail inches wide of the goal as Zambia went into the break leading 1-0.
The game really opened up on the hour-mark with both sides leaving gaps in midfield, and it was the Congolese who took advantage of this.
They broke quickly up-field with the ball falling to the unerring boot of Bolasie, who fired home past Mweene.
DR Congo finished the game the stronger with Bolasie going inches wide and Mbokani’s bicycle-kick was well-saved by Mweene.
Next up for DR Congo is a meeting with Cape Verde on Thursday, while Zambia take on pool favourites Tunisia on the same day.
