The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia have opened up a three point lead on top of Group B with six points after beating second placed Zambia 2-0 in a match-day two of the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday afternoon.

The visitors’ captain Wahbi Kazhri scored from a penalty as early as the 8th minute after Chipolopolo defender Benedict Chapeshi had handled in the box which sent the North African team to halftime leading 1-0.

In search of an equaliser in the early second half, Zambia head coach Beston Chambeshi introduced midfielders Clatous Chama, Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba, Spencer Sautu and young striker Jimmy Mukeya which at least saw some positive changes but with no results and it was Tunisia who instead found a second goal in added minutes when Ben Anasi Silimani sealed victory.

A few minutes after their introduction the substitute combined, with Mubanga crossing the ball from the left which Chama intelligently headed on target but Tunisian goalkeeper Farouk Ben Moustaffa was equal to the task as he punched the ball away.

The last clear equalising chance came in the 82nd minute when another substitute Mukeya had only the goalkeeper to beat but his short went inches wide.

Zambia’s next fixture is away to Equatorial Guinea on 6th October before a return match at home with same opponents four days later.