( CNN ) A tenacious Tunisia broke the deadlock in Group B to put one foot in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations . The 2004 champions were the first team to win a match in the so-called `` Group of Draw '' with a 2-1 victory over Zambia . The second qualifying place from Group B is still up for grabs , however , after Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo played out a goalless draw in the late game . That result will cheer the free-flowing Zambians , who had created the best chances as dusk began to settle around the tree-fringed Estadio De Ebebiyin . Captain Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka fed off one another up front but shot after shot failed to find its target . The 2012 champions -- who had not lost an AFCON match since 2010 -- had to wait until the 59th minute for Mayuka to fire them into a deserved lead . Kalaba darted through the Tunisia defense to set up Mayuka , who buried the ball deep into the net and celebrated with a series of back flips . The striker 's acrobatics proved more painful just minutes later . As he stretched to reach another cross from Kalaba , his legs split wide and he was eventually carried off the field . The untimely injury to the talismanic striker , who is on the books of English Premier League side Southampton , was the turning point of the match . While he was being treated on the sidelines , Tunisia spied a chance to take a run at 10-man Zambia . The equalizer , a tap in by Ahmed Akaichi , came all too easily . As darkness fell on the town of Ebebiyin , in the north east corner of host nation Equatorial Guinea , the crowd raised its voice , urging on a winner . The decisive goal came from Tunisia captain Yassine Chikhaoui in the 89th minute when the FC Zurich player rose clear , heading the ball into the net . `` That was not the Zambia I know , '' the team captain Kalaba told reporters . `` I do n't know what came into the mind of my colleagues after we scored . I was shocked to see the way they played . '' Tunisia now leads Group B on four points ahead of Cape Verde and DR Congo on two points and Zambia , which has a single point . The second match at the lively Estadio De Ebebiyin saw Cape Verde and DR Congo play out a physical , often scrappy , draw . Cape Verde represent the smallest country at AFCON -- the island territory stretches to just 1.5 square miles -- but the 'Blue Sharks ' have big ambitions . At its tournament debut in the 2013 edition of AFCON , the islanders reached the quarter finals and Rui Aguas ' men came close to joining Tunisia on the cusp of the last eight again , Thursday . The ball was inches from the line when defender Admilson Barros -- known as Gege -- attempted to bundle it into the net only to be denied by the swift fingers of Robert Kidiaba . The Congo DR keeper then stooped low to brilliantly deny Heldon Ramos when he had wriggled his way clear on goal . The Leopards ' threat was blunted early in the match when West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu limped off . Cedrick Mabwati emerged as Congo DR 's target man but there was ultimately no breakthrough for either side . The `` Group of Draw '' may be no more but Zambia , Congo DR and Cape Verde are all hunting an elusive win in Monday 's decisive Group B matches .
Tunisia stage a late comeback to defeat Zambia 2-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations . Ahmed Akaichi and captain Yassine Chikhaoui find the net for Tunisia . Congo DR and Cape Verde draw to keep Group B qualification hopes alive .