Summary Defending champions Zambia and Nigeria were denied victories by minnows in Africa Cup of Nations.
Defending champions Zambia held by Ethiopia and a late equaliser from Burkina Faso to deny Nigeria left Group C finely balanced on day three at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
Zambia are aiming to become only the fourth country to win back-to-back titles but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in an explosive encounter with the Ethiopians, back in the big time after a three-decade absence.
Ethiopia, one of the founding fathers of African football, were down a man when goalkeeper Jemal Tassew was sent off for a woeful tackle on Chisamba Lungu in the first half.
That provoked disgruntled fans to pelt the pitch with a volley of vuvuzelas.
With order restored, Zambia took the lead when Collins Mbesuma ran on to Isaac Chansa s headed pass to shoot left-footed past replacement keeper Zerihun Tadele.
But Ethiopia, whose star striker Salahdin Said watched in despair as he saw Kennedy Mweene save a first half penalty, grabbed a deserved point when captain Adane Girma equalised on 65 minutes.
Nigeria, back at the finals after missing out last year, were next up, and looked to be cruising to a comfortable win when Emmanuel Emenike put them in front before half-time.
But a combination of wasteful finishing and being reduced to 10-men when Celtic defender Efe Ambrose picked up a second yellow card pushed the door open for Burkina.
And in the fourth minute of injury time Lorient midfielder Alain Traore, soon after coming on as a substitute, grabbed the equaliser.
Despite their valiant performance Burkina s winless run in Nations Cup finals extended to 18.
The Nations Cup roadshow moves to Rustenburg, England s HQ at the 2010 World Cup, on Tuesday with the eagerly awaited entrance of favourites Ivory Coast, who face Togo, and the Maghreb derby between Tunisia and Algeria.
