Sport
Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Update: Zambia advances to quarterfinals
Police again mounted a tight security operation with dogs and riot officers with full body armor and shields on patrol while a helicopter flew over the stadium.
Fans began arriving a few hours before kickoff and the bottleneck caused by police only allowing entry through one gate meant thousands queued outside the stadium, with reports of tear gas being used at one stage to control the crowd – a repeat of scenes at the opening match in Bata.
Despite the tough police tactics, a festive atmosphere reigned inside the stadium where fans blew trumpets, wore masks and wigs in the national colors of Equatorial Guinea and waved giant inflatable hands in support of the team.
The atmosphere was dampened somewhat by Katongo’s decisive strike, the Zambia captain skipping past two challenges on the edge of the box before firing a low shot into the corner past Equatorial Guinea ‘keeper Emanuel-Danilo Clementino.
Missing the suspended Iban Iyanga and Laurence Doe and with David Alvarez rested on the bench, Equatorial Guinea struggled to make many scoring chances.
Ivan Bolado missed the home side’s best opportunity when he found space in the box from Daniel Ekedo’s pass in the 41st, but he failed to lift his shot over Kennedy Mweene in the Zambia goal.
“It’s only one defeat. We have to correct the mistakes for the next match and see the future optimistically,” said Equatorial Guinea coach Gilson Paulo.
