Zambia held by Morocco

Johannesburg - African champions Zambia had the better of a 0-0 draw with Morocco at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday in a warm-up match for the 2013 Cup of Nations tournament.

But Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) wasted several scoring chances and when Mukuka Mulenga unleashed a powerful shot eight mintues from time, goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri deflected it on to the woodwork and the ball was cleared.

The result came as a relief to France-born Zambia coach Herve Renard, who has come under media fire after friendly losses in Saudi Arabia and Tanzania last month and to Angola in Johannesburg last Saturday.

Zambia are in Group C with Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Nigeria while Morocco face hosts South Africa, Angola and the Cape Verde Islands in Group A of a 22-day championship that kicks off on January 19 in Soweto.