Since this great country was born 48 years ago we awaited this moment. Blessed are those who witnessed this moment in the history of Zambia.
On Sunday when the Chipolopolo trotted onto the turf in Libreville nobody believed (except Zambians and few strong hearted pundits) Zambia could win the Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of the fancied and star-studded Ivory Coast. Not even the absurd CAF decision to give Senegalese Badara Diatta the match could sway destiny.
Playing just metres away from the spot that swallowed 30 gallant Zambia men in 1993, the Chipolopolo played like 22 men on the field. History was made.
The international media, unashamedly, described the quality of the football as underwhelming. I beg to differ the game had everything except goals in regulation time and extra-time. What is hard to take for most of them, (saw Mamadou Gaye?) is that they were wrong and couldn’t admit it. They were not man enough to stand up for the new Africa champions!
This was an enthralling contest. Fast, furious and frenetic. The Chipolopolo showed skills that only Zambians know they possess. Commentators called it show-boating. How deluded can one be?!
Ivory Coast had their chances including a soft penalty fluffed by the once dreaded Didier Drogba. He blamed the ground for the miss. Yaya Toure was only inches away in the first period and so was the sub Maxi Gradel with less than 5 minutes to play.
In truth, Ivory Coast played well enough without being efficient. This was not by chance. Excellent Zambia coach Herve ‘’The Fox’’Renard had it all planned. Zambia dominated this match. Dignitaries that included the great Pele, FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA boss Michel Platini, and some African presidents including Zambia founding President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and immediate past President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and others. Had it not been the grace of the post in injury time, the Elephants would have been slaughtered in added time when the Kotongo brothers, Chris and Felix, mesmerized.
It was a worthy final and Zambia ran out deserved winners with a signature performance. The Chipolopolo produced one of the greatest display ever. The bravado to hold on and win the dramatic penalty shoot-out was amazing! Just unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable!
The 1993 Gabon disaster can finally rest in peace.
Zambianfootball.net Musonda ‘’Ba Muzo’’ Chibulu rates the new kings of Africa.
Kennedy Mweene-10-He was voted the best goalkeeper. Apart from the semi-final save from Asamoah Gyan, this was Mweene’s best match. He was quick off the line. Very decisive when coming for the high ball. Got done well. He was intimidating. He was an elephant in goal that Drogba could not see! His celebration in front of the Chelsea striker after he ballooned his penalty was hilarious; ‘’You cant see me,’’ , he spoke with his five fingers flashing across the stunned Drogba.
But he will be remembered for ever as having saved a penalty (in fact he saved two including the one re-taken which I think was a legitimate save) and calmly slotting past his opposite number Boubacar Barry.
Davies Nkausu-10-This was a case of saving the best for last. He was the second best defender on the night for Zambia. He showed a big match temperament that I never thought he possessed. He was hard in the tackle. Good position sense and was confident in starting from the back. The only time, I saw him beaten was in the 29th minute in the build up to the glaring Yaya miss. Showed composure when Renard gave him the ‘hair dryer treatment’, but cooling tapping the gaffers shoulder as if saying “easy coach, I heard you”.
Joseph Musonda--Lasted ten minutes-too late too early to be classified. But he started very well and his injury came off a brilliant block in the box. He cried like a baby as he left the pitch. If anybody thought Chipolopolo came to fool around in the final, they should have seen the passion showed by Musonda. He really wanted to play and win it for Zambia. That was patriotism personified.
Hichani Himoonde-9-The Mazembe man has been the perfect foil for the Stophila Sunzu. He was enormous again in neutralizing Didier Drogba and his Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou who had to be substituted. Himoonde was always first on the ball in one on one tussles. Used his frame well and put in crucial tackles too. One of the two Zambian out-field players that did not take a spot with Nkausu.
Stophila Sunzu-10-Best central defender in Africa alongside Ghana captain John Mensah. Sunzu once again defied all odds and reduced Drogba
into a complainant of the match. The only re-plays Drogba made was complaints. He was marked out of the match and Sunzu was central to that. Confident and assured through-out. The 22 year old showed maturity beyond his age to dispatch the penalty that won the Africa Cup. Legend.
Nathan Sinkala-9.5-He was nicknamed ‘’Yaya’’ after the Manchester City midfield schemer. I would not be surprised if Yaya Toure was code-named Sinkala after the young Green Buffaloes man who was exemplary in this match. Sinkala showed he can mix it with the big boys here. He harassed and closed down well. He even showed some skills as well. Sinkala was unlucky when his shot was saved in the opening minutes of the match by Barry. He rifled his penalty like a true soldier in the top right to cap off a confident display.
Chisamba Lungu-9.5-He was a marvel to watch. He showed his versatility in playing at left back as when he started the tournament when Felix Katongo was introduced for Nyambe Mulenga. The composure with which he played the final was superb for a rookie. This time even at the back Chisa was outstanding. The few times he got into problems he used his abundant skills to bail him out. Many said Sinkala and Lungu are the future. The future is here. Zambia is African champions and the Russia based played his part well.
Isaac Chansa-9.5-The Orlando Pirates finally delivered a performance worth his quality. Isaac was all over. He tackled at the back. He made deft touches. He closed down spaces well reducing the much vaunted Didier Zokora into a caricature of a player discarded by Tottenham Hotspurs. Lost for pace to combine in the crime of giving away the penalty with Nyambe Mulenga.
Rainford Kalaba-8.5-Had a blistering first half but seemed to have run out of steam in the second half. Intelligent play again and combined well with Chris Katongo and Chansa. His set play delivery was found wanting but gave his all. Kalaba was unfortunate not to write his name in folklore by missing the penalty that should have won it for Zambia a bit earlier. Not that it mattered. Kalaba was lively and creative element who was just unfortunate to miss out on Africa’s best 11 but takes his place in the best 23.
Chris Katongo-10- was the symbol of Donchi Kubeba. At 29 years he emerged as the player of the tournament. He was voted the CAF man of the match. He led from the front. Every team needs a man. He was the man for Zambia at this tournament. Workaholic who showed skills many wrongly thought had long deserted him. What he said prior to the match he showed on the pitch. He was the embodiment of determination and courage. Katongo looked at the post that denied him in added time after lovely work from Felix as if he could uproot it.
Emmanuel Mayuka-10-The golden boot winner the 2012 AFCON gave the Elephants backline led by Kolo Toure a major headache. In the closing stages, the Manchester City defender had to produce a world class intervention to deny Mayuka a volleyed chance. Mayuka held the ball well, he drifted left right and centre at will. He tested Barry a few times. The Ivorians had top keep an eye the entire match which restricted Kolo Toure who loves venturing forward. An accomplished performance finished with a fabulous penalty.
Subs:
Nyambe Mulenga-8- (on for the injured Musonda) Flew in the tackle. He played like it was not his first appearance in the tournament. Mulenga was beaten for pace and was clumsy in giving away the penalty. But the shove on Gervinho really started from outside the box. And was right to protest but Diatta showed him an undeserved yellow card. Sacrificed in a tactical switch.
Felix Katongo-9-You could see why Herve Renard insisted on having Felix in the team. He showed his quality in getting past a man on the righty before squaring to ghis elder brother, Chris who hit the upright with Barry’s foot making the slightest of touches to the ball with the studs of his boot. He was full of running and kept the Ivorians on the back foot. Welcome back Feli-goal is what his well placed penalty could have read!
Herve ‘’The Fox’’-10- Led Zambia to be champions of Africa miraculously. He restored Mayuka and Chisamba to the starting line-up in an adventurous 4-4-2 formation. He made brilliant substitutions particularly taking off Nyambe Mulenga and pushing Lungu to left back to bring on the junior Katongo. He was calm and gave Mayuka room to manouvre. His instructions were spot on. When he thought Nkausu was in the wrong, he nearly gave the SuperSport defender a rollicking. The manner with which the Chipolopolo played and won the penalties lottery was evidence of a well drilled side.
Renard even had to act as a carrier for Joseph Musonda at the end of the match to take the crocked Golden Arrows defender to the ‘’prayer meeting’’ where they joined the rest of the team in singing and praising Jehovah God for the victory.
Throughout the tournament at no point did Renard be-little his team like in his first reign. He understood and used Zambia’s past particularly the memory of the Gabon disaster heroes to motivate his side.
Rightly has dedicated the victory to the perished 1993 team and Zambia great Kalusha Bwalya for giving him a chance when he was a relative unknown.
Thanks and well done at this moment I cannot express the sense of gratitude Zambia owes Renard. He shall be remembered and revered for ever here. As for me, I will be glad if he would consider me worth to clean his shoes for a year as my token of appreciation.
FAZ have been vindicated in re-hearing the Frenchman. Erick Mwanza also deserves special mention for his role. Kalusha Bwalya, for me, deserves to take our football forward. The 1988 African footballer of the year had few equals in his playing time but has only brought the Africa Cup as president of the FA.
Congratulations! Now the 1993 Gabon disaster heroes can rest in peace as the cause they died for has been accomplished.
The Copper Bullets honorably brought down the hefty Elephants in some style to achieve this. History was made in our time and before our very own eyes. How blessed!
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