Leicester City striker Patson Daka struck a dramatic injury-time equaliser as Zambia held Mali to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group A match at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
Daka, who has scored just once for Leicester City in the English Championship this season, powered home a header from a Mathews Banda cross in the second minute of added time to secure an unlikely point for the Chipolopolo.
Mali dominated much of the Group A encounter but saw El Bilal Toure squander a penalty late in the first half at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. Toure’s spot-kick was saved by Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza after VAR adjudged Banda to have fouled Nene Dorgeles in the penalty area.
The Eagles eventually broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark when Auxerre forward Lassine Sinayoko reacted quickest to fire home from close range at the second attempt following a corner.
However, Mali were denied victory by Daka’s late intervention, a result that benefits hosts Morocco, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Comoros in the section on Sunday.
Morocco face Mali in Rabat on Friday, while Zambia who have now gone 10 Africa Cup of Nations matches without a win since lifting the trophy in 2012, take on Comoros in their next Group A fixture.
AFP
