Zambia Emerges African Champions

History was made in the Africa Cup of Nations last night as the chipolopolo, (Copper Bullets) of Zambia defied bookmakers to win the 28th edition of the championships co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

It was a dramatic final match at the state d’lamitie stadium, Libreville, Gabon as the Zambians outlasted the Elephants of Ivory Cost 8-7 on penalties after regular and extra time ended scoreless.

The victory was emotional for the Zambians, who were playing in the country where they lost a generation of national team players in a fatal plane crash in 1993, memory of whom they honoured and dedicated the victory to.

After coming close to wining the trophy for the first time in 1994, when they lost 1-2 to Nigeria, the Chipolopolo have now written their name in gold in the continent.

Prior to the match, many pundits gave the Zambians little chance of surviving the star-studded Ivorian team. But the new champions, whose coach always saw his side as the most underrated, went about business with stoic determination.

The match was played by both sides just the same way they have been comfortable throughout the tournament.

While Zambia attacked with lightening speed, Ivory Cost soared up the pressure and countered with a  mission.

Even with a penalty opportunity handed to Ivory Cost midway in the second half.

Ivorian talisman and Captain, Didier Drogba stepped out but ballooned the chance to the sky.

The match was eventually, taken to penalty shootout, where it also turned into a marathon.

Ivory Coast first gave Zambia the opportunity to carry the day when Kolo Toure failed to score the eighth kick but it was not taken as Zambia’s kick also missed the mark.

But on the second round of kicks after Gervinho missed target for the Ivorians with the nineth kick, Zambia converted to write their names in history.

After 14 kicks were converted, Kolo Toure and Gervinho failed to find the target for the Elephants as Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba also blazed over.

But Stoppila Sunzu found the top corner to complete an amazing 8-7 victory.

It was a heartbreaking end for Ivorian skipper Didier Drogba, who missed a spot-kick in normal time.

And it means the wait goes on for an Ivory Coast team replete with many Premiership League and European stars, with the country losing the 2006 final to Egypt in the same way and last winning the title 20 years ago.

For the Chipolopolo, who have already been runners-up twice, it concluded a tournament where they were inspired by the loss of the 1993 Zambian team after a plane crash close to the venue of the final in Libreville.

The last time the Southern African country reached the final in 1994, it was just a year after 18 Zambian team members died as they took off from the Gabonese capital.

En route to the final, the current team had spoken of the strength they had gained in remembering that tragedy.

And in winning the shoot-out, they showed a steely determination to beat their supposedly more illustrious opponents with a performance that was built on an indefatigable spirit.

Having more than matched the Ivorian team throughout the 120 minutes of play, they showed greater composure when the contest came down to the crunch.

Drogba’s penalty miss after the hour mark was startling, as he smashed the ball way over the bar after Gervinho was pushed over.

But Zambia were also unlucky as Boubacar Barry made two crucial saves at opposite ends of the match, first stopping Nathan Sinkala’s shot from a well-worked corner and then poking Chris Katongo’s shot onto the post in extra-time.

Between those chances, Yaya Toure shot off-target from 10 yards and, although Francois Zahoui’s team showed some impetus at times, they rarely tested the impressive Zambia keeper Kennedy Mweene, who also scored in the mammoth shoot-out.

L-R: Governor Chibuike Amaechi represented by Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor at the flag-off of the quarterly Governor's Forum Polio eradication campaign in Obonoma, Rivers State, at the weekend.