Unlike their 1993 predecessors, the 2012 Chipolopolo team was not well known. They entered their competitions as underdogs and had no previous major achievements under their belts. Against all odds, they made it to the finals of the Africa Cup of nations that year that were held in Libreville , the capital city of Gabon. This was where, decades ago, the Zambian plane carrying 30 people took off, only for it to crash minutes later into the Atlantic Ocean, taking the lives of all 18 football players, 12 support staff, and crew.
Now, the city that Zambians remembered somberly was the same place where the Chipolopolo beat Ivory Coast in the finals 8-7 during a penalty shootout. This victory represented more than the breaking through of Zambia as a continental victor. It meant honoring those who had paved the way for Zambian football. For Zambian players, their victory was a sign of providence. It was fate that they should stand tall where their counterparts had fallen.
After the unbelievable victory, Kalusha Bwalya, a surviving member of the 1993 team, stated that, “I am convinced that our dearly departed brothers who lost their lives here 19 years ago have lent us a helping hand.” The Zambian spirit of football was now permanently in the shape of the fallen heroes.
The Zambian story is the only story in the world that has two such extremities. Death and Life.
Much like the original team, nobody believed the Zambian side could achieve thee great victories, until they did.
Their victory was located just a few hundred meters from the plane crash site – a place that simultaneously brought inconceivable heartbreak and incomparable joy.
To this day, the Spirit of Football dominates Zambia. Within the confines of the sport, Zambians gather as one family without regard for gender, social class, or religion. The name Chipolopolo has never only belonged to those who step on the pitch, instead, it has always belonged to every single Zambian. With every victory, the entire country celebrates, and with every loss, the entire country is silent. Such is the power that football has, even transcending all social barriers.
Zambia has continued its fight for recognition on the global stage once more and is slowly achieving this goal. The Shepolopolo (Female national team), and the under 20 are both performing competitively and are making a name for themselves. At the same time, local Zambian footballers such as Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu are excelling in mainstream European leagues. The journey for Zambia has truly began as the world begins to notice the talent and potential that Zambia has.
References
Wine, D., II. (2018, February 21). Black History Month: A nation loses its brightest stars. Stars and Stripes FC. https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/2/21/17035074/black-history-month-zambia-plane-crash-1993
Said, N. (2018, September 12). Zambian players pay respects to 1993 plane crash victims. ESPN.Com. https://www.espn.com/soccer/zambia/story/3631726/zambian-players-pay-respects-to-1993-plane-crash-victims&
Zambia players visit crash site. (2012, February 10). BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/16970394
Solace, C. (2021, September 6). Zambian players make good in the Premier League. New Frame. https://www.newframe.com/zambian-players-make-good-in-the-premier-league/