Nations Cup Update: Zambia, I’Coast through to AFCON s’finals
Africa & World Politics, Headlines, Soccer, Sports Sunday, February 5th, 2012 
Zambia and Ivory Coast eased into the African Nations Cup semi-finals with 3-0 wins over Sudan and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea respectively on Saturday in the first games of the weekend’s quarter-final clashes.
A 15th minute goal from defender Stopilla Sunzu, a second after 66 minutes from captain Chris Katongo and a third four minutes from time by James Chamanga ensured Zambia reached their first Nations Cup semi-final since 1996.
The Ivoirians overwhelmed the Equatorial Guineans courtesy of a Didier Drogba brace and Yaya Toure’s well-taken free kick late on.
Drogba made up after earlier having his penalty kick saved with an individual strike after a defensive error by the central Africans in the 36th minute.
The Chelsea striker got his third strike of the tourney courtesy of a headed goal in the 69th minute while Toure put the match beyond the co-hosts in the 81st minute.
In the first game, Stopilla Sunzu rose unchallenged to head home a free kick as Zambia stamped their dominance on the match almost from the start in a workmanlike performance.
Katongo scored on the rebound after his penalty attempt had been saved by Sudan’s Akram El Hadi Salem for his third goal of the tournament.
The penalty came after tricky play down the wing forced a trip on Rainford Kalaba by Saifeldin Ali Hidris, who got a second caution to became the fifth player sent off at the tournament. Substitute Chamanga curled home a shot from inside the area in the 86th minute to complete an easy win for Zambia after some sloppy defending by Sudan.
Zambia had two early efforts to signal their attacking intent before the opening goal while Sudan sought to break on the counter and were restricted to shooting from distance
-Punchwp_posts
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