Maravi

Zambia celebrates

Zambia celebrates
By Kalumiana Kalumiana in Linbreville Gabon and Ndinawe Simpelw
Mon 13 Feb. 2012, 13:00 CAT

WE have done it, it would have been unthinkable for Chipolopolo to leave Libreville without the trophy, says Herve Renard. And wild celebrations engulfed Zambia after Chipolopolo defender Stophila Sunzu netted in the decider of the head-to-head Africa Cup final between Ivory Coast and Zambia.

In an interview after Chipolopolo were crowned the African champions at midnight Zambian time, Renard said the national soccer team had honoured the legacy of the Gabon disaster by winning the Africa Cup.

"It was written somewhere that we will win here. The only possibility for us, the fact that we could come here for the final gave us greater inner strength and a present for our FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya who escaped this catastrophe," Renard said.

"We were stronger when we got to Libreville. We knew what we needed to do to honour the victims and this was our destiny in this win, we had a stronger force. I am very proud to be coach of the Zambia national team. We are very proud to have brought the cup back to Zambia."

Meanwhile, Zambians across the nation broke into the Chipolopolo iyee and Don't Kubeba songs and filled the streets to celebrate the historic victory. Zambia beat Ivory Coast 8 - 7 on post match penalties, with Sunzu converting the final spot kick.

Celebrations went on into the early hours of today.

After 120 minutes, there was nothing to separate the two sides and the match was to be decided on post-match penalties.

Both teams scored their first six penalties but drama ensued after Manchester City defender Kolo Toure missed the seventh penalty for Ivory Coast giving the advantage to Zambia.

However, when Rainford Kalaba stepped up to take the penalty, he too skied the spot kick.

This gave the chance to another high-profile player, Arsenal's Gervinho to put his country ahead but he too shot wide.

With Dr Scott, government officials and first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda and former president Rupiah Banda watching in the stands, Sunzu put the ball behind the net to give Chipolopolo its first-ever Africa Cup.

Zambia becomes the second Southern African nation to win the AfCON after South Africa in 1996.

Chipolopolo ended an agonizing 38 year wait to be crown African champions yesterday after defeating Cote d'Ivoire 8-7.

It was a fairytale end in Libreville where 19 years ago Zambian football underwent its darkest day on April 27, 1993 when 18 players and 12 officials and crew perished in an air crash on the coast of the Gabonese capital.

The team was on its way to Dakar to play a USA 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal.

Twice before Chipolopolo had tried and failed to win the Africa Cup in 1974 that was decided in an epic replay against Zaire now DR Congo.

And in 1994 just a year after the Gabon air crash, Chipolopolo came close to an emotional triumph but lost 2-1 to Nigeria in an exciting final played in Tunis.

Zambia began her march to yesterday's final with a surprise 2-1 win over pre-tournament favourites Senegal in a Group A match on January 21.

They followed that with a hard-fought tie against Libya on a water-logged stadium in Bata, twice coming from behind to draw 2-all.

Chipolopolo ended her group matches with a vital 1-nil win - courtesy of a goal by team captain Christopher Katongo - over tournament co-hosts Equatorial Guinea.

The win saw Zambia top the group and set up a quarter-final clash against Sudan. Zambia's resounding 3-0 win over the Sudanese set up a mouth-watering encounter against Ghana.

In a game in which Zambia was often outplayed, and in which goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene pulled off a vital save from Asamoah Gyan's penalty, Emmanuel Mayuka's 78th minute winner secured a memorable passage to the final in Libreville.

In yesterday's final, Zambia neither disappointed nor were they overawed by a galaxy of star in "The Elephants" lineup in the first half.

And the Chipolopolo should have gone in front just after two minutes when a well worked corner found Nathan Sinkala unmarked in the box but his shot was well saved by Babubacar Barry in the Ivorian goal.

Zambia continued to explore the Ivory Coast territory with fans both at the stadium led by Vice-President Guy Scott and his wife and the fans back home cheering the Chipolopolo's every move.

Five minutes later, veteran Joseph Musonda suffered a reoccurrence of his pre-tournament knee problem but quickly came back on.

Sadly, he only lasted five minutes later on the pitch in a distressed state, dealing a serious blow on his 100th cap for Chipolopolo and he was replaced by Nyambe Mulenga.

Chipolopolo continued to look comfortable and an Emmanuel Mayuka, the midway point was blighted by some questionable decision by Senegalese referee Diatta Badara but justice was served when Mweene saved Siaka Tiene free kick with ease in the 20th minute.

Isaac Chansa had a good opportunity in the 27th minute but he ballooned his shot high and over when he was well set up by Rainford Kalaba.

Two minutes later, Ivory Coast had the best chance of the half when a back heel by Didier Drogba found Yaya Toure but his shot was just inches wide from the goal.

Gervinho too had a go at Mweene in the 35th minute with a flick but the Chipolopolo goalkeeper saved with ease.

Chipolopolo dominated, led by Katongo whose attempt was five metres wide when it was easier to lay off for Mayuka before the first half fizzled out without any sparks from a very quiet Kalaba and nothing much to show from the star studded Ivory Coast.

At the start of the second half, Drogba was left dazed after a clash of heads with Mulenga but recovered quickly to combine well with Gervinho in the 47th minute but Sunzu was there to prevent danger from near the post and the ball went out for goal kick.

Seven minutes later, Ishmael Tiote let loose a free kick that went rising and out as the 1992 champions enjoyed a good start to the second half.

Chipolopolo recovered from that Elephant rampage with Mayuka's cross in the 61st munite in search of Kalaba who was lurking on the far end intercepted by Gosso-Gosso.

At this stage, the entire stadium was left tense and nervous waiting for the opening goal but the fans back home in Lusaka continued to cheer the Chipolopolo in different locations of the city.

Zambia continued to look an improved side after the hour mark as Kalaba was now showing signs of firing up after a subdued first half.

However, in the 68th minute, Gervinho easily went down after he was bundled over by the Zambian defense as he ran into the box.

The senegalese referee did not hesitate to point to the spot and Chelsea talisman Drogba stepped up to take the resultant penalty. But drama is never very far behind when Mweene in goals at the Africa

Cup with spot kicks when the striker shockingly skied the penalty, missing his second spot kick at the tournament.

Then Nyambe came off in the 73rd minute for Felix Katongo as Renard pushed for offensive in search of that vital goal..

Chisamba Lungu wasted a good chance with speculative shot in the 81st minute that went wide but that didn't stop Barry from stretching himself just for measure.

Francois Zahoui then took off Yaya Youre for Wilfried Bony in the 86th minute for Alain Gradel whose pace troubled Chipolopolo's defence with his best chance in the 88th minute flashing across the face of the goal with Mweene beaten.

Deep into injury time, Chansa's cheeky chip found Mayuka who skipped the Ivoirian defence but his shot was deflected out for a corner that Barry subsequently saved.

Mweene at the other end also made a brave save with Gervinho a metre out before Diatta blew for extra time.

In the 94th minute, Felix Katongo beat one defender to pass to his brother Christopher who hit the post with his effort but it seems Barry had the final touch to the ball.

The two teams could not find the back of the net until the final whistle and neither looked subdued going into extra time.

In extra time, both teams continued to size each other up but without creating any goal scoring opportunities with the dreaded penalty shootouts looming.

Labels: FOOTBALL

posted by MrK @ 3:21 PM