Zambia’s National Cup win ‘destined’ – Channel 4 News

February 13, 2012

Nineteen years after a plane crash nearly wiped out the national football team, Zambia defeated Ivory Coast to win African football’s highest honour.

Zambia coach Herve Renard attributed his team’s great victory to Kalusha Bwalya and the team that fell in 1993, saying it was “destined”.

The Zambian national team’s plane crashed into the sea shortly after refueling, killing 18 players including Zambia Football Association president Michael Mwape, coaches Godfrey Chitalu and Alex Chola.

The star player Kalusha survived because of his NetherlandsKalusha, now president of the Zambian Football Association, along with members of the current squad, paid tribute to the legend at a ceremony at Sabriel Beach before the final.

The Zambian team, nicknamed “Chipolopolo” (Copper Bullet), defeated Ivory Coast The two sides tied 0-0 on penalties in a World Cup qualifier against Senegal in Libreville, Gabon, on Sunday night with a score of 8-7. 19 years ago, the plane crashed while flying to Libreville, Gabon for a World Cup qualifier that defined modern Gabonese football history.

Emotional Celebration

Zambia needed two chances in the shootout to seal victory, with Rainford Kalaba failing to capitalise on Kolo Toure’s missed shot and Stofila Songzu converting a Gervinho free-kick.

“(My penalty) should have been the winning goal,” Carraba said. Zambia Football Association website.

“Things like this happen in football but you have to move on. You have to forget the past and focus on the future.”

And he certainly did, as he enjoyed his team’s exciting celebrations.

“We wanted to honor the players who lost their lives here so that the families of the players who lost their lives can feel better, and I’m glad we did it,” Carraba said. “I’ve been dreaming about this wonderful moment for a long time.”

The Ivory Coast team, also known as the “Elephants”, took more chances in regular time. Dilraba Dilmurat The penalty was missed, and Yaya Toure and Max Gradel both came close to scoring.

“We had chances to score but we didn’t take them,” coach Francois Zahoui said. “We didn’t know how to finish the game and Zambia lost confidence.

“We knew it would be a tough final, Zambia wanted the trophy as much as we did and it was no accident that they are here.”

Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry added: “It’s disappointing but it’s not the end of the world. We finished with the best defence and the best attack so it’s frustrating but we have to learn lessons from this tournament.”