Latest news with #Chipolopolo
CAF
18 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Zambia team profile
Nickname: Chipolopolo Total Appearances: Four (2009, 2016, 2018, 2020) Last Appearance: Cameroon 2020 Best Finish: 3rd (2009) Titles: 0 FIFA Ranking: 87 Coach: Avram Grant Captain: Kabaso Chongo Zambia have been regular features in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), qualifying for the finals an impressive four times out of the previous seven editions. The Southern African nation has undoubtedly proven its ability and earned its rightful place as amongst the best teams in African football. Their last taste of continental success came at TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2012 when they became the second Southern African nation after South Africa (1996) to win the AFCON. Despite continental success eluding them in recent years, Chipolopolo have maintained their status in the Southern African region, winning seven regional COSAFA titles with the most recent being from 2023. How they qualified: Zambia qualified as a result of a walk-over following the pulling out of Mozambique. Know the coach: Avram Grant The experienced Israeli football manager will guide Zambia at the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), taking over from Wedson Nyirenda who led the team through qualification. The former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss is known for his calm demeanour and strategic mindset, Grant brings vast experience to the Zambian technical bench. His focus at CHAN will be to maximise the potential of local talent, aligning with the tournament's home-based player policy. Zambia will look to his global expertise to guide them through a challenging Group A that includes Kenya, Morocco, DR Congo and Angola. Marshalling the troops – Kabaso Chongo Marshalling the defense and the in-field troops will be Kabaso Chongo as the team captain. The former TP Mazembe centre back who is now in the books of Kabwe Warriors brings wealth of experience to Chipolopolo in their quest for their second continental title. Previous TotalEnergies CAF CHAN performance: The 2024 finals will mark Zambia's fifth appearance at continental showpiece, with their last appearance being in 2020. Their best performance came in the inaugural edition where they finished in the top three with a bronze medal following their 2-1 victory over Senegal. Following their third-place finish in 2009, Zambia have since advanced from the group stages in all their appearances (2016, 2018, 2020) but failed to advance further than the quarter-final. They will be hoping to change that record this year. Fan Zone: Did you know: Grant famously led Chelsea to the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. His coaching career spans several continents, including stints with the Ghana national team, whom he led to the 2015 AFCON final.
CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Eight days to go: Avram Grant: CHAN a launchpad for Zambia's next generation
Zambia head coach Avram Grant believes the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) represents more than just a tournament — it's a strategic platform to fast-track the development of the country's local-based footballers. With Zambia drawn in a challenging Group A alongside co-hosts Kenya, North African heavyweights Morocco, Angola and two-time champions DR Congo, Grant is focusing on internal growth rather than external threats. The former Chelsea and Ghana boss insists that CHAN serves as a critical tool for long-term progress in Zambian football. 'At the moment, we are preparing well because CHAN is very important for us. We don't have many players in Europe like other countries who have lots of their first team players abroad. For us, we mostly use players who play locally, and we have already shown what we can do—like when we beat Ivory Coast,' he said. Grant, who has spent the last year identifying and nurturing talent across the Zambian Premier League, stressed that the CHAN is not just about silverware but also about scouting and shaping the future national team core. 'Normally, this tournament gives us an opportunity to see more players for the first team, which is good for creating competition,' he added. Despite facing strong opposition in the group stage, Grant's approach remains steady — focusing on Zambia's game model and individual player development. 'In this competition, we will concentrate more on our team and its development to see who gets promoted to the first team. Of course, we can only do that when we have a winning mentality like we've shown in the past,' he said. 'For CHAN, I don't think the opponent is important. What's key for us is to play as a team and show that winning mentality.' The Israeli tactician, who took Zambia to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, underlined the vital role CHAN plays in providing exposure to domestic talent. 'CHAN is like a tool for us. Our main national team is composed of local players. We have a tough group, but that will help us grow in such an environment,' he explained. With several young players set to feature in the upcoming tournament, Grant is confident that the experience will be invaluable for their development. 'For the young players, this is a chance to grow and mature. They still need a bit of guidance and polishing, but I'm sure we will achieve a good tournament with them.' Zambia's preparations have been quietly impressive, with the team stringing together a series of strong performances in recent warm-up matches. 'We will do our best because over the last few games, we've shown good football and a lot of improvement. We've kept four clean sheets in a row. Now we are facing a different challenge and want to continue improving these players. This is the target.' Zambia's CHAN campaign, therefore, carries a dual objective — to compete with pride and resilience, and more importantly, to lay the foundation for a stronger Chipolopolo in years to come.
CAF
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Zambia name 32-man CHAN squad with sights set on East African success
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Zambia head coach Avram Grant has named a 32-man provisional squad for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, placing his faith in a new generation of home-based talent to lead Chipolopolo's charge in East Africa. Grant has combined experience and youth in his latest selection, banking on Zambia's strong domestic league to provide the spark in a highly competitive Group A featuring hosts Kenya, DR Congo, Morocco, and squad includes key figures such as Kelvin Kampamba of Zesco United, midfield dynamo Prince Mumba of Power Dynamos, and the versatile Charles Zulu from Nkana. Experienced defenders Kabaso Chongo and Benedict Chepeshi and promising attackers Charles Zulu, Evans Kayombo, and Andrew Phiri were also included. Zambia will begin their CHAN journey against DR Congo on 7 August, followed by a clash with Angola three days later. A heavyweight tie against defending champions Morocco awaits on 14 August, before rounding off the group campaign with a fixture against co-hosts Kenya. This year's edition marks Zambia's fifth appearance at the tournament, having previously featured in 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Their best finish came in the inaugural 2009 edition, where they clinched bronze. With East Africa co-hosting for the first time across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 2 to 30 August, the stage is set for Chipolopolo to script a fresh chapter in their CHAN history. The squad, drawn from Zambia's top-flight clubs, reflects a phased preparation process. Several players featured in the COSAFA Cup, while domestic training camps have been ongoing in Lusaka. A final training camp will be held in East Africa ahead of the competition. The former Ghana and Chelsea boss will use the tournament not only to target continental success, but also to build momentum towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. Below is Zambia's full provisional squad for the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship: Full Zambia Provisional Squad – CHAN 2024 Goalkeepers Francis Mwansa (Zanaco) Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos) Levison Banda (Zesco United) Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows) Defenders Benedict Chepeshi (Zesco United) Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United) Mathews Banda (Nkana) Kendrick Mumba (Nkana) Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors) Kebson Kamanga (Red Arrows) Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows) Lyson Banda (Green Buffaloes) Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos) John Chishimba (Zanaco) Midfielders Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos) Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos) Prince Mumba (Power Dynamos) Kelvin Kapumbu (Konkola Blades) Wilson Chisala (Zanaco) Philimon Chilimina (Green Buffaloes) Rally Bwalya (Napsa Stars) Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United) Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United) Jackson Kampamba (Mutondo Stars) Kenneth Kasanga (Nkwazi) Timothy Sichalwe (Athletico) Kelvin Mwanza (MUZA FC) Strikers Andrew Phiri (MUZA FC) Evans Kayombo (Napsa Stars) Charles Zulu (Nkana) Joseph Phiri (Red Arrows) Kenan Phiri (Makeni All Stars)
Egypt Independent
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Independent
How Zambian soccer recovered from a plane crash that killed a golden generation
CNN — In 1993, Zambia's national soccer team had captivated the nation. For once, there was real, genuine hope that this young, exciting squad could qualify for its first World Cup in 1994. To do so, the team would need to navigate the qualifying stages, where it would face other African teams battling for a position at the world's biggest sporting event, set to be hosted in the United States. But, in pursuit of that dream, Zambia suffered a disaster that would shock the world and kill almost the entirety of its golden generation. The Chipolopolo ('The Copper Bullets') had been due to play Senegal in a World Cup qualifier in Dakar, requiring a long and arduous plane journey up the continent of Africa. Such was the economic state of Zambia at the time, the team would often fly in a DHC-5 Buffalo military plane which would need multiple stops in order to refuel. The laborious route was set. The team would leave Zambia and fly to the Republic of Congo, then to Gabon, then to the Ivory Coast, before eventually landing in Senegal. Tragically, the plane never made it to its final destination. On April 27, 1993, the aircraft carrying the Zambian national team crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, shortly after leaving Gabon. A total of 18 players were killed, along with everyone else onboard. Fans pay their respects to the graves of those killed in the crash, including players, staff and often is the case in aviation disasters, the cause of the crash was a mixture of both bad luck and a series of errors. In his book 'Crash of the Buffalo' – which details the Zambian tragedy – author and former journalist Jay Mwamba said a fire in the left engine of the plane broke out shortly after leaving Gabon. In a panic, he said, the pilots shut down the right engine by mistake, causing the aircraft to plunge into the water below, killing everyone onboard. Before moving to the US to study, Mwamba had spent time following the team in his former role as a sports journalist. He knew many of the Zambian players personally and still remembers where he was when he heard about the tragedy. In the week prior to the crash, Mwamba had spoken to Kalusha Bwalya – the standout star of the Zambian team. Bwalya was playing in Europe for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at the time and was due to meet up with the national team after it had landed in Senegal. Devastating accident It was Bwalya who rang Mwamba on that fateful morning to tell him the news. 'I instantly called my old newspaper in Zambia to find out more and they confirmed what I had heard. I started reeling off names (of players who might have been on the plane),' Mwamba told CNN Sports. Mwamba said he experienced a delayed reaction to the tragedy, with the reality only hitting him when he was watching a soccer match between England and the Netherlands later that day. 'They held a minute of silence for the Zambian team and that's when I started crying. That's when it really hit me,' he added. 'You see some of my favorite players bowing their heads, holding a minute's silence. I was devastated.' Back in Zambia, the news broke the hearts of a nation. At that time, the nation's economy was struggling and the men's soccer team was one of the few things that offered any glimmer of hope. After the crash, it appeared that light had been extinguished for good. Zambia team captain Kalusha Bwalya pays his respects to the graves of the Zambian national morning after the plane had crashed, debris and luggage from the plane started washing up on the shores of Gabon. The 30 people onboard were eventually buried just outside Independence Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia, at a memorial site called the 'Heroes' Acre.' Devastated by the disaster, Mwamba waited over 10 years before starting to research and write his book about the incident, which focuses heavily on the incredible comeback story of the national team. 'I was like everybody else. I was just shattered, just horrible, you know, just depressed for a year and I never thought of writing a book until a bit later, around 2007,' he said. 'I thought this has to be chronicled. I thought I could do a decent job since I knew a lot of the players. In fact, I knew one of the pilots.' Over a few years, Mwamba set about interviewing people about the incident – including people who were supposed to be flying on the plane. He also spoke to those tasked with rebuilding a team that Zambia could be proud of. He told CNN Sports that the decision to rebuild the team was made by those in charge of the national team as they flew to Gabon to retrieve the bodies. The call then went out to Bwalya, asking if he would lead the team in its World Cup qualifying campaign. He accepted and trials were held to find the new generation of stars. Zambian rebuild Incredibly, the new team gelled quickly and it beat Morocco 2-1 just 10 weeks after the disaster. However, despite the positive start, the Chipolopolo came up just short of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. The team lost 1-0 in a rematch against the Atlas Lions in the final playoff game, bringing a gut-wrenching campaign to a heartbreaking conclusion. Despite the defeat, the team returned home heroes and refocused ahead of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Led by Bwalya again, the new squad went on to reach the AFCON final but once again fell just short of continental success, losing 2-1 to Nigeria. It would be 18 years until Zambia found itself back with a shot at glory and it appeared destiny had an important role to play. In 2012, the Zambian team visited the coastline close to where the plane crashed in 1993. Thomas Mukoya/Reuters In 2012, the team went into the AFCON unfancied. Bwalya had since retired from playing and was now serving as the head of the Zambian soccer federation. Much to some people's surprise, Bwalya had re-hired head coach Hervé Renard the year before, after the Frenchman had left the role in 2010. He was tasked with guiding the underdog side through what many expected to be a difficult tournament. Incredibly, against all odds, Zambia reached the final of the tournament, which was to be played in Gabon, just a few miles away from where the crash occurred 19 years before. Before the final, the team visited the shoreline where the plane had plunged into the ocean, laying flowers in an emotional ceremony. Then, with the memory of that golden generation in their heads, the Zambian team beat Ivory Coast in the final, courtesy of a dramatic penalty shootout. With the win, Zambia secured its first – and only – Africa Cup of Nations title. 'We wanted to honor the dead players and that strengthened us. Our first game was against Senegal and the team was on its way to Senegal for a match when the plane crashed,' Renard said at the time. 'The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny.' Mwamba told CNN Sports that the memory of those who died in 1993 still lives on in the team today – despite many of the players not being born when the tragedy occurred. Now, 32 years on, the Zambian men's team has another chance of reaching a World Cup in the US. It currently sits third in its qualification group and has three games left including matches against two teams above it – Morocco and Tanzania – later this year. Mwamba said the team has a 50/50 chance of securing a playoff place for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. If Zambia is to reach the tournament, you feel it might be destiny playing a part once again.
Egypt Independent
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Egypt Independent
How Zambian soccer recovered from a plane crash that killed a golden generation
CNN — In 1993, Zambia's national soccer team had captivated the nation. For once, there was real, genuine hope that this young, exciting squad could qualify for its first World Cup in 1994. To do so, the team would need to navigate the qualifying stages, where it would face other African teams battling for a position at the world's biggest sporting event, set to be hosted in the United States. But, in pursuit of that dream, Zambia suffered a disaster that would shock the world and kill almost the entirety of its golden generation. The Chipolopolo ('The Copper Bullets') had been due to play Senegal in a World Cup qualifier in Dakar, requiring a long and arduous plane journey up the continent of Africa. Such was the economic state of Zambia at the time, the team would often fly in a DHC-5 Buffalo military plane which would need multiple stops in order to refuel. The laborious route was set. The team would leave Zambia and fly to the Republic of Congo, then to Gabon, then to the Ivory Coast, before eventually landing in Senegal. Tragically, the plane never made it to its final destination. On April 27, 1993, the aircraft carrying the Zambian national team crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, shortly after leaving Gabon. A total of 18 players were killed, along with everyone else onboard. Fans pay their respects to the graves of those killed in the crash, including players, staff and often is the case in aviation disasters, the cause of the crash was a mixture of both bad luck and a series of errors. In his book 'Crash of the Buffalo' – which details the Zambian tragedy – author and former journalist Jay Mwamba said a fire in the left engine of the plane broke out shortly after leaving Gabon. In a panic, he said, the pilots shut down the right engine by mistake, causing the aircraft to plunge into the water below, killing everyone onboard. Before moving to the US to study, Mwamba had spent time following the team in his former role as a sports journalist. He knew many of the Zambian players personally and still remembers where he was when he heard about the tragedy. In the week prior to the crash, Mwamba had spoken to Kalusha Bwalya – the standout star of the Zambian team. Bwalya was playing in Europe for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at the time and was due to meet up with the national team after it had landed in Senegal. Devastating accident It was Bwalya who rang Mwamba on that fateful morning to tell him the news. 'I instantly called my old newspaper in Zambia to find out more and they confirmed what I had heard. I started reeling off names (of players who might have been on the plane),' Mwamba told CNN Sports. Mwamba said he experienced a delayed reaction to the tragedy, with the reality only hitting him when he was watching a soccer match between England and the Netherlands later that day. 'They held a minute of silence for the Zambian team and that's when I started crying. That's when it really hit me,' he added. 'You see some of my favorite players bowing their heads, holding a minute's silence. I was devastated.' Back in Zambia, the news broke the hearts of a nation. At that time, the nation's economy was struggling and the men's soccer team was one of the few things that offered any glimmer of hope. After the crash, it appeared that light had been extinguished for good. Zambia team captain Kalusha Bwalya pays his respects to the graves of the Zambian national morning after the plane had crashed, debris and luggage from the plane started washing up on the shores of Gabon. The 30 people onboard were eventually buried just outside Independence Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia, at a memorial site called the 'Heroes' Acre.' Devastated by the disaster, Mwamba waited over 10 years before starting to research and write his book about the incident, which focuses heavily on the incredible comeback story of the national team. 'I was like everybody else. I was just shattered, just horrible, you know, just depressed for a year and I never thought of writing a book until a bit later, around 2007,' he said. 'I thought this has to be chronicled. I thought I could do a decent job since I knew a lot of the players. In fact, I knew one of the pilots.' Over a few years, Mwamba set about interviewing people about the incident – including people who were supposed to be flying on the plane. He also spoke to those tasked with rebuilding a team that Zambia could be proud of. He told CNN Sports that the decision to rebuild the team was made by those in charge of the national team as they flew to Gabon to retrieve the bodies. The call then went out to Bwalya, asking if he would lead the team in its World Cup qualifying campaign. He accepted and trials were held to find the new generation of stars. Zambian rebuild Incredibly, the new team gelled quickly and it beat Morocco 2-1 just 10 weeks after the disaster. However, despite the positive start, the Chipolopolo came up just short of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. The team lost 1-0 in a rematch against the Atlas Lions in the final playoff game, bringing a gut-wrenching campaign to a heartbreaking conclusion. Despite the defeat, the team returned home heroes and refocused ahead of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Led by Bwalya again, the new squad went on to reach the AFCON final but once again fell just short of continental success, losing 2-1 to Nigeria. It would be 18 years until Zambia found itself back with a shot at glory and it appeared destiny had an important role to play. In 2012, the Zambian team visited the coastline close to where the plane crashed in 1993. Thomas Mukoya/Reuters In 2012, the team went into the AFCON unfancied. Bwalya had since retired from playing and was now serving as the head of the Zambian soccer federation. Much to some people's surprise, Bwalya had re-hired head coach Hervé Renard the year before, after the Frenchman had left the role in 2010. He was tasked with guiding the underdog side through what many expected to be a difficult tournament. Incredibly, against all odds, Zambia reached the final of the tournament, which was to be played in Gabon, just a few miles away from where the crash occurred 19 years before. Before the final, the team visited the shoreline where the plane had plunged into the ocean, laying flowers in an emotional ceremony. Then, with the memory of that golden generation in their heads, the Zambian team beat Ivory Coast in the final, courtesy of a dramatic penalty shootout. With the win, Zambia secured its first – and only – Africa Cup of Nations title. 'We wanted to honor the dead players and that strengthened us. Our first game was against Senegal and the team was on its way to Senegal for a match when the plane crashed,' Renard said at the time. 'The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny.' Mwamba told CNN Sports that the memory of those who died in 1993 still lives on in the team today – despite many of the players not being born when the tragedy occurred. Now, 32 years on, the Zambian men's team has another chance of reaching a World Cup in the US. It currently sits third in its qualification group and has three games left including matches against two teams above it – Morocco and Tanzania – later this year. Mwamba said the team has a 50/50 chance of securing a playoff place for the 2026 World Cup, which is set to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. If Zambia is to reach the tournament, you feel it might be destiny playing a part once again.
