By: QekoThe mighty Chipolopolo boys are this year’s African football champions. In a final match played in Libraville, the Gabonese capital, Zambia beat the African Giant the Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout (8-7). In the ninety minutes of play and extra time the team failed to score. It was Stophira Sunzu’s last penalty kick that crowed the mighty Chipolopolo boys as the AFCON 2012 champion.
Zambia came to this tournament with a big purpose in mind of wining the Cup in honour of their Heroes who died in 1993, just some a Kilometers away from the venue of the match. It was in 1993 when the Zambian Air force carrying the Chipolopolo boys crashed off the coast of Gabon killing all the 30 passengers on board.
The match started with both teams demonstrating their willingness to score an earlier goal but they failed utilize their chances. However Zambia almost came to making the lead in an earlier minutes of the game but the Ivorian goal keeper denied them the chance.
The Ivorian led by their key European based players, Drogba and the Toure brothers did all they could but failed to stop the Zambia team spirit led by the Katongo brothers, Emmanuel Manyuka and Chansa. Zambia who came to the tournament as the underdog, proved many wrong that its not about the number of experience players in the field of play but team work and team spirit. The Ivorian with big names in the life of African football played fantastic football but could not hit the back of the net.
Gracing the AFCON 2012 for Zambia was the Father and Founder of Zambian Nation, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, former President, Rupiah Banda and the current Vice President, Dr. Guy Scott, the Zambia football icon Kalusha Bwalya and may Zambian fans dressed in the nation's colours.
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