DR Congo and Zambia settled for a one-all draw win their Group B opener on Sunday at the Estadio de Ebebiyin in Ebebiyin.
Yannick Bolasie churned out a man-of-the match performance to save the Leopards from defeat in the opening match.
Zambia shot into the lead with second attack of the game in the first minute through Given Singuluma just when both teams had started to warm themselves into the game.
Singuluma, who incidentally plays for DR Congo champions, TP Mazembe delivered a low shot that beat his club-mate Robert Kidiaba in post for the Leopards.
Minutes later, striker Dieudonne Mbokani found himself in a good position to draw level after Zambia goalie Kennedy had spilled a harmless ball onto his path, but the Ukraine-based forward could sonly shot wide.
The Congolese attacked from both ends with Yannick Bolasie on the left and Herve Kage on the right, keeping the Zambian backline on their toes.
On the half hour mark, Mweene recovered from his listless start to deny Bolasie, saving the Crystal Palace winger’s point-blank shot with his feet.
The Leopards maintained the momentum and were unlucky to have found the equalizer at the stroke of half time after a Bolasie free-kick at the edge of the penalty area deflected off the human –wall, missing target narrowly.
The Congolese resumed on the same tempo but could only get equalizer after the half-hour mark following the introduction of Cedric Mabwati and Junior Kabananga for Firmin Mubele and Herve Kage respectively.
And it was Mabwati who provide the assist for the equalizer on 65 minutes laying a pass to Bolasie, who fired into the roof of the net with Mweene completely beaten.
The Congolese never looked back with consistent raids into the Zambian half but the 2012 champions held on to snatch a vital point.
Orange Man of the Match Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo) Samsung Fair Player of the Match Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)
