Zambia coach Honour Janza has admitted that they were second best against DR Congo.
Zambia squandered a 1-0 halftime lead to finish 1-1 with DR Congo in their opening Group B match in Ebebiyin on Sunday.
Given Singuluma put Zambia ahead in the 2nd minute but it was all DR Congo thereafter who were rewarded with the equaliser in the 66th minute scored by Yannick Bolasie.
"The most important thing is we did not lose the game. The first game is usually full of nerves, and we have learnt one or two things," Janza said.
"The early goal was good for us because we knew that when DR Congo scored it was going to be difficult for us to come back. We planned to put them under pressure."
Meanwhile, DR Congo midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu rued coming away with just the one point.
DR Congo could have at least scored two more goals through Bolasie and Mulumbu, Dieumerci Mbokani and Bolasie were all denied sure chances by Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene in the first half.
"Today, we deserved to win but we missed a lot of chances and could not score. We knew it was important to win but we missed a couple of chances," Mulumbu said
Zambia now turn their attention to Tunisia in their penultimate Group B match on January 22 in Ebebiyin while DR Congo take on Cape Verde in the late kick-off on the same date.