Holders Zambia reach Africa Cup after shootout

Defending champions Zambia qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Saturday after winning a marathon penalty shootout in Uganda. It took 20 spot kicks at the near-full Nelson Mandela stadium outside Kampala before the visitors emerged 9-8 winners having lost the second leg 1-0 with recalled Geoffrey Massa scoring midway through the opening half. The final round qualifier finished 1-1 on aggregate, necessitating the shootout in which Zambia converted nine consecutive kicks after captain Christopher Katongo failed to score from the first penalty. Zambia are no strangers to shootouts, defeating fancied Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in Libreville last February after 120 goalless minutes to win the trophy for the first time. Herve Renard, the French coach who guided Zambia to success against the odds, wore the same white shirt and jeans in each match of the 2012 tournament, and in Kampala. Defeat meant more heartbreak for Uganda, seeking a place at the premier African football tournament for the first time since losing the 1978 final against hosts Ghana. Victor Moses scored twice and Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel once as Nigeria crushed Liberia 6-1 in Calabar to advance after the first leg finished 2-2 in Monrovia last month. Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa and Ikechukwu Uche were also on target for the Super Eagles, who have suffered numerous Cup of Nations disappointments since last lifting the trophy 18 years ago. Nigeria were favoured to progress, but the winning margin over the Lone Stars exceeded expectations and will cheer coach Stephen Keshi, who promised to quit if his team failed to reach South Africa. Ghana became the first team to qualify for the 2013 finals with an early Afriyie Acquah goal giving them a 1-0 win over Malawi in Lilongwe having taken a two-goal advantage to the Civo Stadium. Acquah, from Serie A outfit Parma, was not even in the original squad, but got a late call-up when another Italy-based midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, withdrew injured. Malawi never stopped trying before a crowd that included state president Joyce Banda and troubled goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey occasionally, but more clinical finishing would have given the Black Stars a bigger victory. Mali shrugged off the absence through injury of experienced midfielders Seydou Keita and Mahamadou Diarra to triumph 4-1 in Botswana after leading by a solitary goal at half-time. France-based Cheick Diabate scored the opening goal and there were three more for the visiting Eagles before Botswana grabbed a late consolation, leaving Mali 7-1 overall winners.