THE Copper Bullets of Zambia are through to the semi final of the ongoing Africa Nations Cup after humiliating Sudan 3-0 in the first of the quarterfinal matches played in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, yesterday.

Zambia had topped Group A of the first round winning two matches and drawing one and demonstrated its superiority over Group B runner-up, Sudan, with an emphatic win which earned it a first last 4 placing in 16 years.

As early as 15th minute, Sunzu Stophira scored the first goal as Christopher Katongo's 66th minute penalty and James Chamanga's 86th minute effort, ensured Zambia's easy passage.

Meanwhile, THE co-hosts for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Gabon and Mali will make history today when they play their first official match ever in a quarterfinal duel in Libreville.

Both teams have clashed seven times in friendly matches at full international level since 1988, but have surprisingly not faced each other in a competitive game until this weekend.

And the Panthers of Gabon will take a lot of encouragement from these friendly matches as they have won four of them and drew one.

One of such victories by Gabon was achieved in December 1995, when they defeated Mali right in front of their fans in Bamako.

It was a sweet revenge for Gabon as two years earlier they had fallen 1-0 at home to the same team after they again lost 2-0 in Libreville in 1990.

The last clash between the 2012 Nations Cup quarterfinalists was in August 2008, when Gabon again triumphed 1-0 in France courtesy of a 30th minute goal by striker Roguy Meye.