Defending champions Egypt qualified for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations as Group C winners despite drawing against Zambia in Kumasi. Amr Zaki's close-range left-foot volley completed a sweeping team move to give Egypt the lead after 14 minutes. The Pharaohs went close again when Hosni Abd Rabou blazed over and Mohamed Aboutrika struck from distance. Zambia's equaliser came when Chris Katongo scored with two minutes left, shooting inside the near post. Hassan Shehata said that Egypt would go for the win before the match and, true to his word, he kept faith with the 3-5-2 formation that had brought victories against Cameroon and Sudan in Group C. Captain Ahmed Hassan replaced striker Mohamed Zidan in the Pharaohs' line up while Shadi Mohamed was given a starting berth. In a next to empty Kumasi Sports Stadium it was Zambia who made the brighter start as they bid to secure maximum points against five-time champions of Africa and keep their Nations Cup dream alive. Good interplay between Felix Katongo and the orange-booted Jacob Mulenga created Chipolopolo's first shot on target, when Isaac Chansa let rip to test goalkeeper Essem Al-Hadri from 20 yards. Though they were slow to start, the North Africans showed their pedigree on 15 minutes. Ahmed Fathi dazzled the Zambian defence with a dribble across the front of the penalty area, Sayed Moawad crossed from the right flank and Zaki fired a left-foot volley home from ten yards to give Egypt the lead. Zambia soon showed some class of their own, when Katongo burst down the right flank and passed to Jacob Mulenga, who could only manage a soft back-flick from the near post. The Egyptian tactic of closing down in numbers and hitting their opponents on the break gave the creaky Zambian defence much to think about. On 27 minutes Hosni Abd Rabou found Zaki clear in area but the Zamalek man could only hit the keeper with right-footed shot that scuffed along the ground. And the Pharaohs squandered more chances to extend their lead before the end of the first half when Fathi smashed a screamer just wide of the left upright and Abd Rabou blazed over from close range. The second half started with Egypt continuing their dominance of possession, their calm passes and good movement giving the appearance of a team in cruise control. And though Zambia showed flashes of danger in front of goal, it was Egypt who had the three best opportunities to score within ten minutes of the restart, Zaki's drive from thirty yards needing an acrobatic save from Kennedy Mweene. Shehata then brought on his big guns with 30 minutes left to play replacing Zaki with Zidan and Hassan with Mohamed Aboutrika. Zambia's most dangerous man was still Mulenga though Zambia's best chance of the game fell to Clive Hachilensa, who could only head into the ground when he was found free in the area with a corner with 13 minutes remaining Aboutrika turned and found space on the outside of the Zambian area to force yet another save from the well-worked Mweene. But it was Chris Katongo who would score the final goal of the game with two minutes of normal time remaining. The Brondby forward pulled the Chipolopolo level when he calmly controlled a pass, dummied the onrushing Fathi and placed his shot inside the near post from 8 yards. The equaliser set up a frantic few minutes as Zambia pushed on for the winner; however, James Chamanga sent his powerful shot into the stands as the Chipolopolo's hopes were crushed in the dying seconds. Source: bbc