African Cup of Nations: Happy return for Ethiopia

Fans cheer before the Africa Cup of Nations Zambia vs Ethiopia group C football match (GETTY IMAGES)

Ethiopia celebrated their return to the African Cup of Nations after a 33-year absence by holding defending champions Zambia to a 1-1 draw in Nelspruit.

There were around 10,000 Ethiopia fans at the Mbombela Stadium and they hurled vuvuzelas and debris in anger after the first-half sending off of goalkeeper Jemal Tassew. However, Adane Girma's 65th-minute strike lifted their spirits and cancelled out Collins Mbesuma's goal, after Ethiopia's Saladin Seida had missed a penalty.

In the other game in Group C, Alain Traoré equalised with the last kick of the game to earn Burkina Faso a 1-1 draw with Nigeria.