ZAMBIA AFCON CHAMPIONS, Ivory Coast Mint SILVER

Zambia conjured up a shock when they toppled star-studded Ivory Coast 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out to claim their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title.

With the sides goalless after extra time Zambia’s Stoppila Sunzu converted the magic spot kick after Arsenal striker Gervinho missed for the Elephants.

The result meant misery for hot favourites Ivory Coast, who failed to claim the title despite not conceding a goal throughout the entire competition until Sunday’s shootout.

It also revived memories for Didier Drogba, who missed a penalty in the second half of normal time, and company of their 2006 penalty shoot out final defeat to Egypt in Cairo.

Zambia, motivated by the memory of the 1993 national team wiped out in a plane crash off the Libreville coast, went into the 2012 climax as outsiders.

But they covered themselves with glory, hassling and harrowing their star-studded rivals all the way to the penalty shoot-out, and then holding their nerve to prevail in the dramatic, barely watchable denouement.

Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui fielded the same side that saw off Mali 1-0 in the semi-final.

His Zambian counterpart, Herve Renard, recalled striker Emmanuel Mayuka, after his starring role in getting the decisive goal in the 1-0 last four defeat over Ghana.

He joined captain Christopher Katongo in spearheading the Chipolopolo’s (Copper Bullets) attack.

Russian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu came in for Francis Kasonde.

A minute of silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the 74 people killed in the Port Said stadium slaughter in Egypt.

The game was only seconds old when Zambia almost took a shock lead, with keeper Boubacar Barry doing well to save Nathan Sinkala’s close range shot off Katongo’s quick pass from a Rainford Kalaba corner.

Renard was forced into an unscripted change when defender Joseph Musonda limped off in tears on 11 minutes – Nyambe Mulenga took his place.

A shaky start by Ivory Coast gave Zambia hope of an upset and Kalaba’s 30m freekick wasn’t far away after taking a deflection off Cheik Tiote’s leg.

The Elephants put together their best passage of play approaching the half hour mark, a neat Drogba backheel setting up Yaya Toure only for the Manchester City midfielder’s angled shot to go wide of the far post.

A hugely promising first half from Zambia had the Elephants’ defence, marshalled by Kolo Toure, under more pressure than they would have wanted, with Katongo leading from the front.

Zahoui, ressembling a New York cop with black trenchcoat and baseball cap, walked into the dressing rooms at half-time with a face like thunder.

The second half began with a deathly hush descending on the stadium – the final in desperate need of the kiss of life in the guise of a goal.

And on 72 minutes one should have come after Ivory Coast were awarded a penalty when Issac Chansa and Mulenga barged into Gervinho.

Drogba stepped up but his woeful attempt went soaring into the night sky, even though he appeared to divert blame to the pitch, glaring at the spot.

This was his second miss from the spot after he had a penalty saved in the quarter-final win over Equatorial Guinea, where he went on to score twice.

One minute later Max Gradel’s shot from the box had Zambia keeper Kennedy Mweene beaten, but it rolled wide of the far post.

In the 95th minute, substitute Felix Katongo crossed from the right for his brother Christopher with only Barry’s toe diverting the goalbound ball off the near post.

There was high drama once the penalty shoot out got underway, with Kolo Toure missing the Ivorians seventh penalty, but Zambia’s Kalaba also missing his to leave the sides still inseparable.

Then after Gervinho failed in his attempt it was left to Sunzu, the defender who plays his club football in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to give Zambia a historic first title, and consign Ivory Coast to another wretched defeat.

Posted by Editor on February 13, 2012. Filed under HEADLINES, SPORTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

197 Responses to ZAMBIA AFCON CHAMPIONS, Ivory Coast Mint SILVER

Rat Race

February 13, 2012 at 9:53 am

The sangoma predicted that zambia will win the tournament because of the two goals the scored in the first game aganist senegal.The first goal was scored in 12th minute the day the tournament was ending and the Second goal was scored in the 21st minute the tournament started.
Ken

February 13, 2012 at 10:00 am

Mamadou gae and amoachi are not objective analysts!!! They are so biased in opinions, well, the best team won after beating all the three favorites!!!!
feligo

February 13, 2012 at 10:02 am

Well looks like sangoma predictions has happened. But I can assure you that the writing well on the wall that we will win. Its just that it is our yr of reckoning and nothing today with sagoma. God as a matter fact was on our side. Glory to Him
Umupondo munchende

February 13, 2012 at 10:04 am

And we won the same time PF was announced winners of elections,what a coincidence things can be.
nyuma mary

February 13, 2012 at 10:10 am

Iyee imwee icimweeeeela!!!!!!
Imwe Gods’s timimin are the best, this our year, Happy Zambian Day
Atate

February 13, 2012 at 10:15 am

How about our own THAPAZ president? he also predicted that zambia was going to come out number 3. Lets not believe in ng’angazi but true God alone. Vongo claimed that god spoke to him thst zambia was going to finish 3rd. Wellllllllllll!
shakira wapa zed

February 13, 2012 at 10:23 am

ine nalapena ,fi joy fya fulisha mwe i just cant stop rejoicing,ayelelelelelelelele.Indeed Gods timing is the best!
Mwiya

February 13, 2012 at 10:26 am

zambia balange……… kuletulafye amasumbu…… its history making time…. firstly,,,, sata in power then zambia placed on the map…. damn, we happy
THE GOGO

February 13, 2012 at 10:31 am

Amid these celebrations am just wondering what would have become of Rainford Kalaba ( for missing penalty) had Ivory Coast won?
zach mwishikulu benstead

February 13, 2012 at 10:39 am

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY.TEKUMAKA, TE KUBULAMBA LELO NI KU MUPASHI WAKWA LESA.KALABA`S MISSING OF THE PENALTY WAS JUST TESTING YOUR FAITH. JEREMIAH 33:3
50 cents

February 13, 2012 at 10:41 am

@THE GOGO,its human nature Rainford Kalaba would have been persecuted for that costly penalty had we lost the afcon,that is just how the world football operates.In bemba they say BA MUTASHA FILI MWI SAYA.But fortunately for us we have the last laugh……………
Eno

February 13, 2012 at 10:47 am

When it’s your time no one would stand in your way. It was our time and God was with us. It took only one copper bullet to bring down the much fancied Elephants of Ivory Coast. Via Zambia. You are African Champs.
Alufeyo

February 13, 2012 at 10:48 am

chicihcolor iwe chimwaiche cha kwa drogba. you were bussy predicting that ivory coast will embarass us. wooooooooo! we are the champions and ask where is drogba and all those who play in europe. may I also advise chi ruben kamanga, that always be positive and be proud of your own team. so look at what has happened to your negativity together with your unqualified , self proclaimed soccer analysts. bamakaka imwe give respect to Kalusha and Wrenar! guys you have shamed all your critics. we are the champions finito!
Dododo!

February 13, 2012 at 10:49 am

when God appoints, ain’t nothing nobody can do and nothing stands in the way. God’s time is the best indeed coz we’v conqured the best aganst all odds. eko usulile ekopa noko! kopala swaga bullets.
In God we Trust

February 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

Pipo, who knows what the route for the procession is and time.

It’s amazing to hear of how prayers were made in every home and even the bars. Mwe Lesa Mulibafisungusho, elyo mwatulanga ati eko mwaba.
sadi

February 13, 2012 at 11:04 am

TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR OUR ANSWERED PRAYERS. WHAT A HONOR FOR OUR FALLEN HEROES,PF GOVT AND THE PIPO OF ZAMBIA.
Mbanje

February 13, 2012 at 11:09 am

It had nothing to do with Sir Ngomas or anything as mythical. We just deserved it. And it is only the beginning. Ba Kalusha abaice bami sevululako insoni.
mk

February 13, 2012 at 11:15 am

i salute the match officials for ably handling the game. there was a lot of anxiety once it was announced that a Senegalese referee was going to be in charge. to my surprise the man proved to be the best. More often tournaments have been marred by bad officiating but this time around, CAF was spot on.
dnice

February 13, 2012 at 11:16 am

Those boys really peayed and thanked their God. I mean that was a wonderful scene. It was God First and celebrations later. CONGRATULATIONS to our wonderful chipolopolo boys and CONGRATULATIONS TO HERVE RENARD AND OUR GREAT KALUSHA BWAYLA. Last night i shed tears of Joy and i have never been so overjoyed. I wish i was in zed, honest. This has gone in memory so well. Oh dear Too bad for Didier, things arent so good for him, misses penalty that could have potentially made them win, and then back here in england, his team has gone from 4th posotion to the 5th position in premiership. How unfair can life be for one person?
Our boys really deserve a presidential welcome home and i know they will get it.
Gobber

February 13, 2012 at 11:21 am

Truly God still answers prayer, this just another testimony for me. Chipolopolo chimwela!
Ba Zambia

February 13, 2012 at 11:28 am

PEOPLE OF THE NATION, WHY ISN’T THIS A DAMN HOLIDAY??? I FEEL TRAPPED IN THE OFFICE COZ I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE AIRPORT BY NOW!!!!!!! I CANT UNDERSTAND THIS!!!!!
john

February 13, 2012 at 11:45 am

PEOPLE OF THE NATION, WHY ISN’T THIS A DAMN HOLIDAY??? I FEEL TRAPPED IN THE OFFICE COZ I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE AIRPORT BY NOW!!!!!!! I CANT UNDERSTAND THIS!!!!!
tumfweko

February 13, 2012 at 11:51 am

THE MIGHTY ZAMBIA HAS SHOWN THE WORLD WHAT WE ARE MADE OF. THE COPPER BULLETS GOOOOOOOOO ZAMBIA WE LOVE YOU
Shi chilekwa

February 13, 2012 at 12:08 pm

Baice you deserve all the dollars coming your way,every cent actually.Some pof you your lives will never be the same from yesterday and onwards.Thumbs up the sky is the limit baice bandi.
Monko

February 13, 2012 at 12:15 pm

Stophili mwaiche lesa aleba naiwe,God bless you you saved Zambia.
Silent Storm Movement

February 13, 2012 at 12:18 pm

Both teams played good football too bad for legends such as Drogba who might retire without ever lifting the Africa Cup but hey, the best team won and that’s our team, to Ivory coast you still have young good players like Max Gradel who are capable of so much more forget about the Drogbas and the Toure’s for now build a young team that’s what we did and look where it got us.
bwalya

February 13, 2012 at 12:20 pm

A befitting tribute to the fallen KK eleven heroes, that the pain be eased in a place of their falling and the glory be theirs as well as ours to last!.

No tribute, no achievement could be surpass this all things considered.

A great honour indeed!!.

BB
Chris

February 13, 2012 at 12:31 pm

They both had every reason to win the AFCON trophy. To Zambians, it was the only way to compensate and honour those that perished in the atlantic ocean 19 years ago in the quest to claim this very title that could not have come no later than today. To the Ivorians, it is the only reuniting factor after months of post-election violence. They both did what they could. Alas! one had to emerge victorious. It was Zambias CHIPOLOPOLO this time around. They are not any better than other paticipants. They just played to win the trophy. WELL PLAYED Zambia……….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AM JUST HUMBLED.
LIPSTICK

February 13, 2012 at 12:32 pm

IT WASNT THE CURRENT TEAM PLAYING IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THAT GAME, IT WAS THE SPIRIT OF THE DEPARTED TEAM. TWO PANALTIES MISSED BY TWO GREAT TEAMS GHANA AND IVORY COAST? NO WAY! IT WAS MEANT TO BE FOR ZAMBIA THO IT WASNT EASY FOR THEM.
Big zee

February 13, 2012 at 1:59 pm

Nothng worthwhile ever comz easy. To thoz claiming ths ws an easy afcon, shame on u! If it ws so easy, why didnt big names make it? Becoz they wr defeated by the teams that did!! Manje cn som1 tel me if we automaticaly qualify to da nxt afcon and confederations cup?
sekondi ntina lesa

February 13, 2012 at 2:17 pm

IYEEEE CHIPOLOPOLO!!
kays bombs

February 13, 2012 at 4:02 pm

THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,THIS IS A HOLIDAY AND NOT A WORK DAY. DAMN.
WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE IN THE OFFICES WHEN OUR OWN ARE CELEBRATING OUR ACHEIVEMENT.
CAN SOMEONE TELL WHY IS DAY IS NOT A HOLIDAY.
MUNYELO PWETE!

February 13, 2012 at 4:24 pm

What a day for Zambia! We were called underdogs! Honestly Zambia ‘KUNYANSI YAGALU’! Tufyakwaaa!
Nkausu Jnr

February 13, 2012 at 4:59 pm

The Chipolopolo victory over the finished Drogba and his Yaya toure has shamed the subjective BBC and biased Aljazeera and other western media who thought Zambian Team were underdogs. SHAME ON YOU and VIVA ZAMBIA.
jensen

February 13, 2012 at 5:08 pm

A BULLET IS ALWAYS SMALL BUT ALWAYS BRINGS BIG ANIMALS LIKE AN ELEPHANT.WHO ARE UNDER DOGS NOW?
Abana CB

February 13, 2012 at 5:24 pm

We request the CUP to go around the Provincial HQs so as we all share the joy that the BOYS HAVE BROUGHT US. As for Copperbelt, Levy Stadium can be put to test with first full capacity as Abana CB can see it at close range. The President and your Cabinet we humbly request.
search

February 13, 2012 at 8:34 pm

THOSE ANALYSITS WERE SO MUCH BIASED FIKALA FYENU. UMUSHINDO
dnice

February 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

i have never been so proud to be zambian. Ala nintemwa nganshi and my heart is extremely overjoyed. Mwabombeni balumendo lesa amupale kabili alemusunga bwino. It shall be well with all of you
Chikondi

February 13, 2012 at 11:13 pm

Thank you Bena Chipolopolo for repin! You have made me Proudly Zambian! God Bless Zambia!
Moses Kabamba

February 14, 2012 at 2:30 am

Ifipolopolo
Zambia shall be saved

February 14, 2012 at 4:32 am

SHOCKING – TB JOSHUA PROPHESIED ZAMBIA’S VICTORY!!
Prevailing Prayers

February 14, 2012 at 6:46 am

All the glory goes back to God and he can not share his glory with other strange sources. Zambia belongs to Jesus and only he deserves the glory.
Prevailing Prayers

February 14, 2012 at 6:55 am

Zambia shall not serve foreign gods, the church needs to arise and give prophetic direction to the nation in all areas. Thank God for the prophecy from Pastor TB Joshua about Chipolopolo’s victory, the victory was not because of what strange sources had said some time back but because of the hand of God. Zambia shall not be defiled by strange sources that is an abomination to God.May the Lord sanctify and cleanse Zambia through the blood of Jesus, we repent on behalf of our land may only the Lord be glorified.

SHOCKING – TB JOSHUA PROPHESIED ZAMBIA’S VICTORY!! on you tube.
Kenneth Kaunda mbewa

February 14, 2012 at 10:08 am

We are the Champions of Africa whether you believe it or not this remains a fact. But allow me to ask Simasimata, Kamanga Reuben and other inexperienced biased and unqualified soccer analysts of Zambia. where do you stand now that Kalusha and Wrenar have showed what they meant for Zambia? criticize objectively and leave room for wide consultation before making statements! so who has shown foolishness now given the fact that we have won AFCON 2012 Under the leadership of Kalu and Wrenr? be proud of being zambian for you only have one country. yes we all support players from other countries but charity begins at home! otherwise no hard feelings let bygones be bygones and lets start on a new chapter with ,any lessons learnt!
justineccc

February 14, 2012 at 10:46 am

kawambwa fimofimo
natuwina

February 14, 2012 at 2:06 pm

ALUFEYO YOU ARE RIGHT REUBEN KAMANGA IS A NEGATIVE SOCCER ANALYST AND HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE. IAM SAYING HE SHOULD NOT CRITICISE BUT HE SHOULD KNOW THAT IF HE NO PROUD OF NATIONAL TEAM MANY US ARE.AND SUCH PEOPLE NEXT TIME SHOULD NOT BE ON PROGRAMMS LIKE THAT.LOOK AT HOW POSITIVE MAMADOU GAYE WAS ABOUT HIS TEAM,IVORY COAST THAT IS THE SPIRIT WE NEED IN OUR ZAMBIAN SOCCER ANALYSTS, THEY NEED TO INSPIRE THOSE LISTENING TO THEM. NOW HE IS ASHAMED WE HAVE WON.LASTLY THE BOYS NEED TO GIVEN MORE BACAUSE THEY DESERVE MORE. TO ME THE 300MIILION IS NOT ENOUGH.
Jose

February 15, 2012 at 4:02 am

This Is Priceless!!!!