SuperSport said it will Re-Live Zambia’s emotional and triumphant African Cup Of Nation (AFCON) victory against Ivory Coast on Saturday.
This will go to a whole new level on Saturday 30 May when SuperSport pays tribute to the emotional and triumphant 2012 Africa Cup of Nations success of Zambia with a special broadcast.
Hosted by anchors Lwazi Ziqubi and Thomas ‘TK’ Kwenaite, this programme will feature contributions, live via Zoom and Skype, from 2012 AFCON winning coach Herve Renard, Former FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya, 2012 AFCON Zambia captain Christopher Katongo and others.
Zambia’s run to glory at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations was one of the most fascinating and compelling narratives of the continental tournament, with Herve Renard’s team seemingly pulled along by destiny in paying honour to members of the Zambian team which were killed in a plane crash in 1993 near Libreville, Gabon – the venue for the 2012 AFCON final.
Chipolopolo, led by inspirational skipper Christopher Katongo, defied the odds from the start, topping Group A ahead of co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Senegal, before trouncing Sudan in the quarterfinals and then narrowly squeezing past one of the tournament favourites, Ghana, in the semifinals.
The final saw them come up against a star-studded Ivory Coast team (featuring legends of the African game such as Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba), but Zambia held firm and ultimately triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout, with defender Stophira Sunzu scoring the decisive kick for an 8-7 triumph.
It was Zambia’s first Africa Cup of Nations trophy and truly one of the most heart-warming and incredible football narratives of the 21st century.
“The spirit of that team really made the difference and I was fortunate to coach a Zambia squad bursting with fantastic players who oozed confidence and possessed commitment in abundance” said Renard on that Zambia 2012 squad.
The French coach also paid tribute to Zambian football legend Kalusha Bwalya, who was in charge of the Football Association of Zambia at the time: “To say that Zambia football is Kalusha Bwalya is an understatement. Wherever Zambia is mentioned in the world, football-loving people would instantly think of Kalusha. The 2012 team certainly regarded him as a model and symbol of national pride. They never disappointed him and, of course, he was with us every step of the way. Personally, I relate with him quite well, and I have every reason to do so.”
In the wake of the 2012 triumph, Chipolopolo talisman Katongo was named the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year. “This is a fantastic moment for me. I thank the people who voted for me. It is something I will never forget in my career,” he explained. “This means a lot for the young people and the young players who look up to me. I could not have achieved this without the support of my teammates.”