By Kennedy Gondwe BBC Sport, Lusaka

Isaac Chansa scored Zambia's goal

Neighbours Zimbabwe and Zambia battled out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly played in Lusaka on Saturday.

The game was organised to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Gabon Air Disaster in which Zambia lost 18 players.

Both sides were also using the match to prepare for their upcoming 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Zambian team, which included seven under-23 players, were unable to take advantage of playing at home and impose themselves on proceedings.

Zambia's best chance of the first half was when Dudley Fichite headed wide from a good Noel Mwandila cross in the 14th minute.

Zimbabwe nearly took the lead when striker Albert Mtano tested Kakonje in goal with a great shot that the goalkeeper was able to deal with.

Zambia's coach Ben Bamfuchile then introduced Christopher Katongo and Isaac Chansa which injected new energy into the game.

The first goal of the game finally came in the 79th minute, following arguably Zambia's best move of the day as Mwandila dummied a through ball from Katongo.

The ball fell to Chansa who drilled it past a hapless Tapuwa Kapina in the Zimbabwe goal.

Zimbabwean coach Sunday Marimo's response was immediate as he brought on three attacking substitutes.

Marimo was also rewarded, with just a minute left on the clock, when a cross from Brian Badza was met with a firm header from Bekithemba Ndlovu that hit the back of the net.

The two sides will meet in another friendly on 16 May in Harare.

Meanwhile the Zambian's under-20 side beat their Zimbabwean counterparts 2-1.

The two side clashed in the final of the men's football event at the Southern Africa Development Community games in Maputo, Mozambique.