The journey to Zambia’s historic 2012 Africa Cup of Nations victory was never just about football; it was about pride, respect, and destiny.
And strangely enough, one of the defining sparks came from something as simple as a jersey.
As the final against Ivory Coast approached in Libreville, the Chipolopolo boys carried the weight of underdog status.
Few gave them a chance against the Elephants, a team stacked with global icons like Didier Drogba, Gervinho, and Yaya Touré.
But before a ball was even kicked, tempers flared over a surprising matter: which team would wear orange.
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By CAF rules, Zambia, as the designated “home” side, had been handed the orange kit.
However, Ivory Coast, fiercely protective of their traditional orange strip, according to the captain of the Zambian side, Christopher Katongo, insisted on wearing it too.
What should have been a minor detail quickly erupted into a heated argument at the pre-match press briefing.
Zambia’s camp stood their ground, emotions running high, until coach Hervé Renard stepped in to calm the storm.
In the end, Zambia conceded, allowing Ivory Coast to wear orange. But that decision carried an unspoken defiance: jersey or no jersey, the trophy would not slip away.
Off the pitch, the obstacles piled on. Their hotel, supposed to be shared with another team, was already filled by Egypt’s delegation. Forced into a less comfortable alternative, Zambia had to adapt.
Salvation came in the form of Federation Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya, who had wisely brought along a chef to prepare proper meals for the team.
In those modest lodgings, fueled by determination rather than luxury, the Chipolopolo prepared for battle.
Then came the press conference that stung. Journalists, mocking Zambia’s chances, dismissed them with a sneer:
“Who are you?” they asked, pointing to the contrast between Zambia’s unknowns and Ivory Coast’s galaxy of stars.
Katongo, again, reveals he stood on his ground and gave a reply that cut through the room like a prophecy:
“After the game, you will know who we are.”
And so, it unfolded. Under the floodlights of Libreville, on the very soil where Zambia’s golden generation had perished in the 1993 plane crash, the underdogs stood tall.
After 120 minutes of football and the nerve-wracking tension of penalties, Zambia’s belief proved stronger than Ivory Coast’s firepower.
They lifted the Africa Cup of Nations, etching their name into history.
FKA/EB
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