Captain Yassine Chikhaoui headed a late winner as Tunisia defeated Zambia 2-1 and took a three-point Group B lead on Thursday in the African Cup of Nations.
The Switzerland-based midfielder nodded a cross past goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene to complete a comeback after Zambia had looked the likelier winners for much of the game.
Emmanuel Mayuka put Zambia ahead on 59 minutes and Ahmed Akaichi became the first player to score twice at the tournament when he equalised on 70 minutes.
Mayuka, a fringe first-team player at high-riding English Premier League club Southampton, wasted two good chances in the final minutes of the opening half.
Unmarked near the six-yard box, the striker headed straight at Mathlouthi, who needed two attempts to grasp the ball.
The Zambian had an even better chance a couple of minutes later as a defensive mix-up between two Tunisians gave him a clear, close-range sight of goal.
Just short of the hour mark, Zambia were finally rewarded for constant pressure when Mayuka atoned for his early misses by putting the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) ahead.
A Tunisian defence that conceded only two goals in six qualifiers failed to clear the ball and when it ran loose to Mayuka, he made no mistake with a fierce, close-range half-volley.
Akaichi levelled 11 minutes later, tapping the ball into the net at the far post after Syam Ben Youssef nodded a corner across the goalmouth.
Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo drew 0-0 on Thursday in an instantly forgettable Africa Cup of Nations Group B match in Ebebiyin.
Scoring chances were few during a dreary duel that rivalled the goalless deadlock between hosts Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso for the worst game so far of a generally entertaining tournament.
The result left the sides sharing second place, two points behind Tunisia and one ahead of Zambia, with one series of matches to come next Monday.
