For all the enduring memories that the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations has given us, there is one moment which stands out above any other. The sight of Kalusha Bwalya, captain of the tragic Zambian team of 1993, holding the trophy aloft on Sunday night provided a poignant reminder as to the enormity of his country’s triumph.
Zambia’s final victory over Ivory Coast ranks as perhaps the greatest upset in the history of African football. The Elephants were almost unanimously regarded as favourites for the competition, and while all but one of the Ivory Coast squad feature in Europe’s top leagues, most of the Zambians have yet to play outside of Africa.Ivory Coast boast the likes of Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Cheick Tiote in their starting line-up. The most ‘famous’ player in the Zambia team is centre forward Christopher Katongo, who plays his football for Chinese Super League outfit Henan Construction FC.
As a footballing triumph, it is arguably unparalleled, but there is an added significance to their victory. In 1993, almost the entire Zambian team were killed in a plane crash directly off the coast of Libreville, Gabon, the city in which this year’s final was held. As the one surviving member of that side, Captain Kashula Bwalya was left with the task of building a new team in time for 1994 Africa Cup of Nations. After quite remarkably reaching the final of that tournament, Bwalya continued his involvement with the national side, which included a stint as manager and as a boardroom member, before moving on to become president of the Zambian FA.
For current manager Hervé Renard and his team, his influence is inescapable. Renard was largely omitted from the celebrations as Stopila Sunzu converted the winning penalty, the players instead rushing in the direction of Bwalya, their victory a lasting monument to the team he had lost. The coach went on to dedicate their success to Bwalya, a triumph which he described as ‘destiny’. The joy was unconfined, but it is difficult to imagine how Bwalya must have felt as he stood atop the winner’s podium, trophy in hand, surrounded by a group of young players who should perhaps rightfully have been his teammates.
The Zambian team returned to a hero’s welcome, but they are perhaps not the only minnows who may be afforded such gratitude. In the absence of such heavyweight nations as South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon, many of the smaller countries prospered at this year’s tournament, not least tournament co-hosts Equitorial Guinea, who stunned Senegal en route to the last eight, where they were unfortunately outclassed by Ivory Coast. Likewise, their fellow co-hosts Gabon, who were widely praised for their mode of efficient, yet attacking football as they came within a penalty shootout of reaching the semi-finals. The tournament was also something of a success for a post-Gaddafi Libya, who won a match at the finals for the first time in 30 years.
This will, however, be remembered as Zambia’s tournament. Kalusha Bwalya never learned whether his promising team would become champions of Africa. 19 years later, his country can finally boast a team, and more importantly a trophy, that is a fitting testament to those tragic young men.
