Namibia became the second COSAFA member to be eliminated from the African Nations Championship after being beaten 1-0 by Tanzania on Saturday but Zambia moved closer to advancing to the knockout stage.

The two southern African neighbours are in Group D and will finish their group phase on Wednesday when they take on each other in Limbe.

Zambia will effectively need a point to advance after they rescued a draw against Guinea with a late goal from Spencer Sautu.

The midfielder headed in the equaliser with just three minutes remaining at the Limbe Stadium after Guinea midfielder Victor Kantabaduno had put the West Africans ahead in the 58th minute.

In the first half, Guinea goalkeeper Moussa Camara nearly gifted Zambia the lead after he rushed out of goal to grab the ball but spilt it. It was an inviting chance for Emmanuel Chabula, but he slipped before he could apply the finish.

Camara made a full length diving save just before the break to deny a header from Paul Katema.

Kantabaduno’s opener came with a close-in effort but Sautu headed home a cross from left-back Zachariah Chilongoshi in the 87th minute for a share of the spoils.

The result means Zambia share top place in the group with Guinea. Both have four points while Tanzania have three after their victory over the Brave Warriors

This was after Syli National midfielder Victor Kantabaduno scored what looked like the winner for the West Africans in the 58th minute until Sauta’s intervention restored parity.

The result means both Zambia and Guinea maintain their places at the top of the group with four points apiece, having won their opening matches last Tuesday.

The game was fiercely contested from the start with both sides keen on winning the match to seal their place in the knock- out stage of the competition.

Sylli National goalkeeper Moussa Camara nearly gifted Chipolopolo with the lead after he rushed out of goal to grab a ball and made a dreadful hash of dealing with it, spilling to the feet of Emmanuel Chabula.

But the onrushing Zambia striker slipped before he could fire, allowing defender Mohammed Traore to clear the ball in the goal-line on five minutes.

Camara made amends in the 43rd minute for his earlier slip up by diving at full length to parry away a goal-gound header from Paull Katema following a free-kick from the right.

A second-half strike by Farid Mussa settled the game, which was officiated by an all-female refereeing team for a slice of African football history, and left Namibia with no points after two matches.

Tanzania kept Namibia goalkeeper Kamaijanda Ndisiro busy through the first half but the Brave Warriors also had their own chance just after the break when captain Absalom Limbondi forced Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula into a double-fisted save from a free-kick at the edge of the box.

Tanzania broke the deadlock when Ndisiro mispunched a cross from the right by Ayuba Lyanga and the ball fell into the path of Mussa who hammered home.

Namibia could have equalized in the 77th minute but substitute Isaskar Guribab missed the targer with the goalkeeper at his mercy.