Ivory Coast was the overwhelming favorite and had the big-name players. It's not like facing
those factors had stopped Zambia from maintaining its inspiring quest to be crowned king of Africa
before.
Almost 20 years after a plane crash in Libreville, Gabon, killed 25 Zambian national team
players and officials, Zambia came full circle and paid an incredible tribute to its 1993
predecessors in that city, stunning Ivory Coast 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shootout after 120
scoreless minutes to capture the African Cup of Nations for the first time in its history.
If recent, handshake-centric events in this country had ruined your faith in
football, then the exploits of Zambia over the past fortnight-and-a-bit may just restore it for
you. Last night, the rank outsiders and the most 'under' of all the underdogs climbed the
proverbial mountain and won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
I can hardly believe it myself. After 120 scoreless minutes, Zambia defeated Ivory Coast 8-7 in a
penalty kick shootout to capture Zambia's first ever African Nations Cup, in Libreville Gabon, the
site of the 1993 plane crash that claimed the lives of nearly all of Zambia's national team.Early
on, Zambia's starting defender Joseph Musonda injured his knee in just the 11th minute, and broke
down
In a scene reminiscent of U.S. women's gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi carrying Kerri Strug to
collect her Olympic goal medal in 1996, Herve Renard, Zambia's 43-year-old French manager, carried
injured defender Joseph Musonda to celebrate Zambia's historic first-ever African Cup of Nations
title after beating the Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout.
Underdogs like Hickory High, Zambia pulled off the unthinkable on Sunday, overrunning the Ivory
Coast for an unbelievable penalty shootout victory and a right to hold the African Cup of Nations
to the sky.
Zambia was charged and Ivory Coast's Prem duo of Gervinho and Didier Drogba couldn't find the
netting against the stout side.
Zambia win the African Cup of Nations, honor those lost 19 years ago in plane crash
After taking off from Libreville in Gabon 19 years ago, a military plane carrying most of the
squad crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. All 30 people on board, including 18 players, were killed.
Before the crash, it was a golden era for Zambia's football team.
The finalists for the 28th edition of the AFCON are now known after thrilling semi-final
fixtures last night. The Ivory Coast will now face Zambia who made it to the final after causing
one of the biggest upsets of the entire tournament by knocking out Ghana. The Black Stars however
have no one to blame but themselves for their exist after failing to make a host of chances they
had count including a missed penalty by Asamoah Gyan.
The finalists for the 28th edition of the AFCON are now known after thrilling semi-final
fixtures last night. The Ivory Coast will now face Zambia who made it to the final after causing
one of the biggest upsets of the entire tournament by knocking out Ghana. The Black Stars however
have no one to blame but themselves for their exist after failing to make a host of chances they
had count including a missed penalty by Asamoah Gyan.
Buenas! The realists and statisticians among you won't be surprised that Barcelona
defeated the very loveable Valencia 2-0 last night. But as it seems, Madrid are
frontrunners to win the La Liga, so el Blaugranas will be hoping to take home their 26th
Spanish Cup title title.
The inevitable African Cup of Nations championship matchup between the continent's two
powerhouses has made way for a title game involving an underdog side that is a win away from
capping off a Hollywood-worthy script.
Upstart Zambia shocked favored Ghana, 1-0, to advance to the tournament final and prevent the
Black Stars from seeking redemption for their loss in the 2010 final.
It was a black day for the sport of Ice Hockey today after a Russian passenger
plane carrying the Lokomotiv Ice hockey team to their season opener crashed on take-off.
43 people were killed while the two survivors are in grave danger, among the dead were Legendary
Slovak forward Pavol Demitra, Czech World Champions Jan Marek, Karl Rachunek and Josef Vajicek.
When United, a drama based on the true story of the Busby Babes and the
1958 Munich Air Disaster, premiered on BBC Two in Spring 2011, it was met with an overwhelmingly
positive reaction. It's out on DVD and now on demand; and we review it below, with the help of
director James Strong .
Cote D'Ivoire never had a chance. Whatever the multi-talents of their squad, the Elephants were
going to struggle in this African Cup of Nations final...up against two teams. As if the Zambian
side at this competition wasn't good enough, there was the memory of their 1993 predecessors with
which to contend, and the current squad's hugely admirable determination to do justice to that
memory.
