First half goals from Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba ensured Zambia earned all three points in their opening 2012 Africa Cup of Nations game against favourites Senegal, claiming a 2-1 success.
A second half consolation from the west Africans, which was scored by Deme N'Doye, was not enough to give them a point.
Highly-rated Senegal failed to live up to their billing as a composed Zambia squad controlled much of the game, particularly the first half. Many critics had written off the Zambians, yet it was them who deservedly led after only 11 minutes.
Young Boys striker Mayuka put coach Herve Renarb�s charges in the lead with a free header that owed much to the lousy defence of coach Amara Traore�s side. The 21-year-old converted from three yards past goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.
Senegal threatened to get the leveller two minutes later, but a free kick from Mamadou Niang followed up by a header from Moussa Sow was pushed out by goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
The Copper Bullets were on top of their game as captain Christopher Katongo controlled affairs for the southern Africans, and a smart feed to Kabala allowed the striker to fire past Coundoul to increase their tally in the 20th minute.
The Senegalese were found wanton, especially their defence, whenever the Zambians headed towards their goalmouth, though the score was unchanged before the break.
The Teranga Lions added some spark into their play with the introduction of Papiss Demba Cisse. But coach Traore�s half-time briefing and changes were not enough to overturn the deficit, though they did manage to produce a consolation courtesy N'Doye. The Copenhagen striker chested down from a long free kick and then fired past Mweene.
In spite of the west African�s determination to live up to expectations, going so close as to hit the bar, the Zambians held on to their win to top Group A on three points, leading Equatorial Guinea on goals scored.
EQUITORIAL GUINEA 1-0 LIBYA
Equatorial Guinea got the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations off to a dramatic start with a 1-0 win over Libya in their first Group A match in Bata on Saturday night.
The tournament opener looked set to be a tame goalless stalemate until the 87th minute when Nzalang Nacional broke the deadlock through attacking midfielder Javier Balboa.
It was Equatorial Guinea�s first win in an AFCON finals tournament and will reportedly earn their players a $1-million bonus from the son of the state president.
Libya settled the quicker of the two teams, but it was the hosts who dominated the first half once they found their rhythm. Nzalang Nacional were soon launching raiding attacks, particularly down the left flank where Iban Iyanga saw plenty of the ball.
Equatorial Guinea thought they had taken the lead on 16 minutes when a low shot from Ivan Bolado squirmed through the arms of Libya goalkeeper Samir Aboud and rolled over the line, but Thierry Fidjeu was in an offside position when the effort came in and the goal was controversially ruled out.
The hosts continued to boss the game in the remainder of the first half, but after the break it was Libya who began to see more of the ball. However, the North Africans lacked the quality in the final third to really test the hosts� defence.
Nzalang Nacional had been quiet for most of the second half but on 87 minutes they finally broke the deadlock, with Javier Balboa springing the offside trap and firing the ball into the top corner after running onto a great pass from substitute Daniel Ekodo.
Rolan de la Cruz almost made it 2-0 a few minutes later with a sizzling drive that rattled the crossbar, but the hosts did need goalkeeper Danilo Emanuel to make a vital save in between.
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