Zambia turns city of tragedy into city of triumph

By Peter Auf der Heyde Feb 13, 2012, 1:03 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Zambia on Sunday won their first Africa Cup of Nations title in Libreville, which 19 years earlier had been the scene of the country's worst footballing tragedy.

The Chipolopolo beat favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out after the game had remained goalless at the end of extra-time.

Stoppila Sunzu scored the winning penalty for Zambia after goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene saved Kolo Toure's spot-kick and Gervinho blasted over. Rainford Kalaba missed for the Zambians.

There were wild scenes of celebration on the pitch as Zambian captain Christopher Katongo received the trophy from the presidents of the co-hosting countries, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon's Ali Bongo Ondimba.

But some of the players were much more reflective in the change-rooms afterwards and said their thoughts were with the team of 1993. A plane carrying the national team en route to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal crashed into the sea off the coast of Libreville, killing all 30 people on board, including 18 members of the national team.

On Sunday, the Zambian team made good a promise to honour the 1993 team by lifting their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations.

Felix Katongo told dpa that they had vowed to win the trophy for the players who had been killed.

'We wanted to do it for them and we are all just so very happy that we managed,' he said.

'The team from then will never be forgotten. They started a job, but were not able to finish it. We have managed to do that for them,' he said.

'This is a wonderful night for Zambian football and I think we can go forward from here and hopefully win many more competitions.'

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba could have given his side victory in the 70th minute, but missed his penalty as he side-footed it over the bar.

A host of dignitaries, including FIFA president Joseph Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and football legend Pele, as well as Zambian President Michael Sata and his Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara were in the Stade de l'Amitie.

The team from southern Africa began with a surprising amount of confidence, and Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry was forced to save as early as the second minute from Nathan Sinkala, following a corner.

Ivorian coach Francois Zahoui said they did not expect Zambia to play the way they did.

'We had opportunity to change, but could not take the opportunity,' he said. 'Zambia believed in themselves and in their victory.'

He said his side had played six difficult games and had arrived at the competition full of confidence and determination to do well. 'Of course it is a great disappointment.'

Zambia managed to get the crowd onto their side early on as they were not afraid to run at their opponents.

They were also guilty of showboating, which brought them a lot of appreciation from the 40,000 crowd, but very little else.

Zambian coach Herve Renard seemed to get frustrated with his own players at one stage as he was seen to push Davies Nkausu as he came close to the substitute's bench.

The coach explained it later by saying he had shown the players a situation where Gervinho scored a goal for Ivory Coast against Mali.

'It was the same situation and I was furious that my player seemed to not respect what I had said.

'But after the game it is not a problem because they know me. If they had a coach who did not act like this, it would not work. Sometimes they have to be pushed.'

Zambia were nearly made to rue their missed chances in the 68th minute as Isaac Chansa and Nyamba Mulenga brought down Gervinho in the box and referee Diatta Badara pointed to the spot, which Drogba, who already missed a penalty against Equatorial Guinea, side-footed over the cross-bar.

In extra time the Zambians had the first chance as Barry just managed to deflect a shot from Christopher Katongo against the post after the captain had been set up by his younger brother Felix.

But as both side failed to score, the match had to be decided on penalties.

The Ivorians are the first team not to win the competition even though they did not concede a single goal. They also lost the 2006 final against Egypt on penalties.