Edem Rjaibi and Ahmed Akaichi have been called as replacements for the injured Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Saber Khalifa, who both suffered muscle injuries during their side's warm-up friendly against Algeria on Sunday.
The loss of both of their favoured strikers is a huge blow to the North Africans who are one of the tournament favourites.
Akaichi has been rebuilding his reputation in recent years after a tough spell with German second-tier side Ingolstadt, while Rjaibi's only previous international experience is as an unused substitute in friendlies last season, meaning national coach George Leekens has a tough choice ahead of him.
Zambia have already come unstuck to Cape Verde after they were beaten 2-1 at the Estadio da Varzea to determine who finished top of their qualifying group.
Far from the force they were when they won the 2012 edition of the competition, national coach Honor Janza seems to already have one eye on Chipolopolo's future with three under-20 rookies in his squad for the tournament.
DR Congo may have won the inaugural AFCON tournament but their passage to this year's finals was through the back door as the best third-placed finisher in qualification.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder probably holds the key to Cape Verde's progression to the next round.
As this is both sides' first match of the tournament they will be keen not to slip up and put themselves under pressure to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The historical record suggests Tunisia should walk this game but Cape Verde have a habit of "giant-killing" and have enough fire power to trouble a side who may find it tough up front.
18 January 2015 - Zambia v DR Congo, Ebebiyin / Tunisia v Cape Verde Islands, Ebebiyin
22 January 2015 - Zambia v Tunisia, Ebebiyin / Cape Verde Islands v DR Congo, Ebebiyin
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