Champions Egypt continued their march towards a possible sixth Africa Cup of Nations crown courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Zambia in a final Group C match here Wednesday.

The Pharaohs finished top of Group C on seven points and now await the second-placed team in Group D who they will face in the quarter-finals to be played here on Monday.
Amr Zaky netted Egypt's goal after quarter of an hour while hard working skipper Christopher katongo drew his team level on 87 minutes when he shot from inside the box.

Egypt kicked off brightly inside an empty 40,000-capacity Baba Yara Stadium in the northern city of Kumasi with their small but noisy travelling band of fans full of voice to cheer them on.
However, Zambia also went on the offensive in the early minutes. Skipper Katongo was impeded on the edge of the box after seven minutes but his brother Felix shot wide of the target from the resulting free kick.

In the 12th minute some good work in midfield let in Felix Katongo who raced into the Egyptian box and he found Mulenga, whose final shot was easily dealt with by goalkeeper El Hadary.
It was Egypt though who took the lead in the 15th minute when Zaky met a sharp pullout from the left by Said Abdelwahed on the half volley which whistled past Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

Mulenga would have restored parity for the Zambians in the 21st minute but his stylish kick after some fine work on the right flank by skipper Katongo was held by El Hadary.

And moments later Katongo again found his way inside the Egyptian danger zone but superb defending by Said Abdelwahed denied him the chance to draw level for the Chipolopolo.
Right fullback Ahmed Fathy responded for Egypt but his long-range shot crashed against the side netting just as indecision by Felix Katongo would again rob Zambia of another chance inside the 18-yard box.
In the closing minutes of the first period, Abd Rabou fired wide from inside the box, Emad Mohamed's header inside the six-yard box was scrambled away by Mweene while the Egyptians found themselves at the end of some hard tackling by the Zambians.
Just after the restart Zaky misdirected his free header within the six-yard box over the bar as Egypt piled on further pressure.
A second goal was proving elusive for the Egyptians after Rabou's feeble shot from inside the box failed to rattle Mweene and Emad Mohamed's effort soon after could only stretch the Chipolopolo goalkeeper.

The introduction of big central defender Chintu Kampamba stabilised the Zambian backline, which gifted several goals to Cameroon in their previous match.
In the 63rd minute Egypt made a double change to pep up their attack, Mohamed Zidan replaced goalscorer Zaky while Mohamed Aboutrika came on for Ahmed Hassan.

Zambia maintained the pressure for an equaliser but hopeful shots by Christopher Katongo and his brother Felix failed to find the net. James Chamanga also tried from distance in the dying minutes of the encounter.
Zambia finished the stronger, but their efforts were to no avail as Katongo netted his second goal of the tournament three minutes from time after dashing into the box and firing home from the near post past El Hadary.