Zambia got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start after they defeated hosts Mauritania 2-1 in Nouakchott Friday.
It was Zambia’s first-ever win in Mauritania and the Al-Murabitun first loss at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott.
The Chipolopolo scored in each half while Mauritania fought back to pull a goal back, but it was too little, too late for the home side.
Zambia unsettled Mauritania soon after the start and threatened to take the lead courtesy of dangerously looking attempts by Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu and Prince Mumba.
The Chipolopolo broke the deadlock on the tenth minute Boyd Musonda picked out Mwepu, who poked the ball past Diaw Namori to make it 1-0.
Mauritania, meanwhile, were finding it tough to create clear cut chances for most of the opening 20 minutes.
In the 29th minute, the visitors did create a chance for a second goal as Patson Daka blazed his effort over the crossbar from close range.
Mauritania continued to play second fiddle shortly before the half-hour mark, but were let off the hook after N’diaye Bakary hoofed a low ball into the area from Yaly Dellah way over the top.
Zambia however conceded more openings in the final 10 minutes of the stanza as a low shot outside the area from Diakhite Ismael forced goalkeeper Mwenya Chibwe to parry whilst Sid Ahmed curled a loose ball wide.
Mauritania nearly had the equaliser within minutes off a back-post attempt by Ismail, but Dominic Chanda made an emphatic goal-line clearance.
Mauritania pulled one back in the 69th minute courtesy of second-half substitute Mamadou Niass.
Beston Chabeshi threw on Benson Sakala and Spenser Sautu for the final 20 minutes as they pushed for a third goal.
The home side pushed numbers forward in an attempt to secure a point, however the Chipolopolo defence managed to hold out until the final whistle.
How they lined up:
Mauritania XI:16. Diaw Namori, 5. Ba Abdoul (c), 2. Sid Ahmed, 23. Beibou Mohamedhen, 14. Yaly Dellah, 19. Coulibaly Ibrehima, 17. Mahmoud Abdallah, 10. Ba Adama, 7. Diakhite Ismael, 11. Khalil Ahmed, 15. N’diaye Bakary
Subs;1. N’diaye M’backe, 20. Abderrrahmane, 13. Sounkhaso, 21. Houribib El Hassen, 4. Harouna Abou, 18. Soueid Mohamed, 12. Moussa N’diaye Almike, 6. Camara Khassa, 3. Camara Oumar, 9. Tanji Hemeya, 8. Niass Amadou
Zambia XI: 1. Mwenya Chibwe, 3. Benedict Chepeshi, 13. Roderick Kabwe, 15. Dominic Chanda, 5. Solomon Sakala, 21. Boyd Musonda, 14. Edward Chilufya, 10. Prince Mumba, 20. Patson Daka, 11. Enock Mwepu (c), 8. Lubambo Musonda
Subs:18. Gregory Sanjase, 16. Lameck Siame, 17. Spencer Sautu, 19. Dickson Chapa, 7. Kelvin Mubanga, 22. Brian Mwila, 2. Simon Silwimba, 23. Tandi Mwape, 6. Benson Sakala, 4. Prosper Chiluya.
