Zambia and its incredible story at AFCON 2012

A look back at the Zambia team of 2012, which left its mark on world football

AFCON Today at 09:32

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Zambia and its incredible story at AFCON 2012

Ahead of the third matchday of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers between Zambia and Burundi, we look back at a moment that cemented the Zambian national team’s place in African and world football history.

There are so many words to describe Zambia’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. Although Egypt, three-time defending champions, were absent, everyone expected Côte d’Ivoire and its golden generation, led by Didier Drogba, to triumph. But the surprise was immense! The Chipolopolos defied the odds and became the 15th team to lift the AFCON trophy.

Hervé Renard’s winning touch

Without a true star, Zambia owed its 2012 success to its players, of course, but above all to its coach at the time, Hervé Renard. Nicknamed the “white wizard”, the French coach built and shaped this team. “The star is the team; no one is bigger than the collective,” said the current Côte d’Ivoire coach time and again. Having reached the quarter-finals in 2010 for the first time in 14 years, Zambia arrived in Gabon determined to do even better.

After topping their group, Hervé Renard’s Zambia swept Sudan aside in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Renard’s players really came to the attention of the general public. Against Ghana, one of the competition’s leading favourites alongside Côte d’Ivoire, the Chipolopolos won thanks to a goal from Mayuka. “It was a big job of persuasion. I believed in it, the players believed in it, but you have to make them realise that the objective is ambitious and that achieving it requires unwavering determination. You must not be afraid of anyone,” Hervé Renard told RFI after the competition.

The 1993 crash, the ultimate source of motivation

Having already reached the AFCON final in 1974 and 1994, Zambia needed to go one better and finally win the trophy. In a twist of fate, the final against Côte d’Ivoire was played in Libreville, Gabon’s capital and the site of the 1993 air disaster that decimated the Zambian team. It was an added source of motivation for the Chipolopolos, who felt they had a mission to fulfil. Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene explained as much to When Saturday Comes magazine. “It would be wonderful to play the final in Gabon. We lost the whole national team in 1993. Their souls are somewhere over there… But we must not let our guard down,” captain Christopher Katongo had also said.

Zambia, forever part of history

In the final, the Chipolopolos made the difference against an Ivorian side lacking a cutting edge and also enjoyed a bit of luck when Didier Drogba missed a penalty during the match. After an epic penalty shootout (8-7), Zambia beat Côte d’Ivoire, who were once again left cursing their luck.

“We are not the best, but we had a force driving us that made the difference. We also had some luck; everything went our way,” said Hervé Renard, dressed in his legendary white shirt. “I think we will realise the scale of this achievement as the years go by and in the years to come. It is the first time Zambia have had their name inscribed on the Africa Cup of Nations roll of honour; no one can ever take that away from us,” he added.

Only time will tell whether such a resounding achievement can be repeated at an Africa Cup of Nations.

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Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.