Tunisia Put Zambia to the Sword to Stay on Top of Group B

Tunisia claimed a 2-0 victory over Zambia in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group B match at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

The win saw the Carthage Eagles maintain their lead at the top of the group standings with four games left, while Chipolopolo remained second on the table.

The Carthage Eagles applied some pressure on Chipolopolo from the first whistle and they were awarded a penalty after Benedict Chepeshi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

Wahbi Khazri then stepped up and scored his 21st international goal, from the spot-kick, to hand Tunisia a 1-0 lead just nine minutes into the encounter.

Chipolopolo had to find a way to level matters, but they could not keep their shots on target, with Dickson Chapa and Prince Mumba failing to hit the back of the net with their attempts.

The visitors then stood firm at the back until Egyptian match referee Ibrahim Nour El Din blew the halftime whistle and Tunisia were leading 1-0 at the interval.

Chipolopolo continued to push for the equalising goal after the restart, but the Carthage Eagles were defending well at the back, with France-based Dylan Bronn marshalling the defence.

However, Zambia were left vulnerable at the back when they pushing forward in numbers and they conceded in stoppage time when substitute Anis Ben Slimane scored to seal Tunisia's 2-0 win.

Elsewhere, Tanzania earned one of the fastest penalties in football history when Simon Msuva was fouled after just four seconds against Madagascar, with the resulting spot-kick converted on their way to a 3-2 win.

Msuva latched onto a hopeful punt forward after Tanzania kicked off before being felled on the edge of the box by onrushing Madagascar goalkeeper Melvin Adrien.

With five seconds on the clock, the referee pointed to the spotwith Erasto Edward Nyoni converting a minute later to give his side an early lead.

Tanzania's penalty could well be the fastest-awarded penalty of all time, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

In 2014, Montenegro were given a penalty after just 10 seconds in an international friendly against Ghana while there have also penalty awards in club football.