Zambia Overcomes Double Blow To Beat Algeria

Zambia overcame conceding a goal and having a player sent off inside 60 seconds to score a historic 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Algeria in Lusaka Saturday.

Brian Mwila scored twice to give the “Chipolopolo” (Copper Bullets) a two-goal half-time advantage before a near-capacity crowd at the 60,000-seat National Heroes Stadium.

But Yacine Brahimi halved the deficit on 55 minutes and a minute later Fashion Sakala was red-carded after a second caution on a hot, cloudless afternoon.

Algeria could not take advantage of playing against 10 men, however, and Enock Mwepu sealed a first Group B triumph for Zambia with an 89th-minute goal.

It was the first Zambian win over the Algerians in World Cup qualifying after failing to score in four losses stretching back to the mid-1980s.

Success gave the southern Africa nation a glimmer of hope in a mini-league being dominated by Nigeria, who thrashed African champions Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo Friday.