from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – FOOTBALL carries deep emotional weight in Zambia due to a plane crash that killed the entire national team more than 30 years ago.
The disaster created a powerful emotional legacy that connects historical tragedy with national triumph and subsequent struggles in the Southern African country.
Hence, the elimination of the current side from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has elicited anger.
The government among the stakeholders is infuriated by the team’s performance, but must guard against meddling, as the world mother body does not take kindly to such.
The government’s reaction aligns with some suggestions by some Zambians demanding drastic action, including disbanding the team and suspending participation at international competitions, hopefully to pave the way for reforms to resuscitate the fortunes of the senior side.
Zambia’s Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) are among the first teams to be eliminated from the ongoing tournament in Morocco, having flown back home on Tuesday.
They have failed to fire at the tournament, finishing the campaign without a win, amassing only two points from a possible nine and eventually finishing bottom of their group behind the hosts as well as Mali and Comoros.
Elvis Nkandu, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, accused the team of several flaws, including lack of patriotism. He said the government was disappointed by the performance of the team in Morocco, which is typical of recent tournaments.
“We need to immediately start reorganising ourselves,” Nkandu said, without clarifying.
“Our players did not show the required character, patriotism, sense of responsibility and will to win that is expected when one wears the national jersey.”
Zambia was crowned champions of Africa’s biggest tournament in 2012, held jointly in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It remains their first AFCON trophy.
They have not won a match since then at the competition and since been on a freefall in the latter seven editions, including the current one.
During that period, they have failed to qualify thrice and succumbed at the group stage four times.
“This is not a good showing for former champions,” Nkandu said of the misfiring team.
“We urge the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), the technical bench and the players to introspect and ask themselves if these are the results they truly wanted for the country.”
The minister said the poor performances were an issue that “must be urgently addressed.”
Football is not only the most popular sport in Zambia but the most emotive issue, especially since in 1993 when an entire team and staff when a plane carrying them crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, shortly after leaving Gabon.
This killed their chances of qualifying for the World Cup 1994.
Dr Lubinda Haabazoka, the prominent economist, noted when the national team perished, trials were called for all teams to provide players to the national side. The team went on to narrowly miss out on the World Cup and finish second at the AFCON the same year.
“We should withdraw from all competitions and conduct trials for three years. We are a laughingstock now,” he said.
“In terms of football, we have had no team since 2012. It’s like every time our players play white people or Arabs, they are scared.”
Moses Sichone, the head coach, speaking after the final match against Morocco late Monday, appeared to agree.
“We gave Morocco too much respect and some players were a little bit nervous,” he said following the 3-0 loss in Rabat.
Sichone (48) has been at the helm only since November after FAZ fired veteran Israeli, Avram Grant.
Mackline Choobe, a fan, concurred with the government and Habaazoka.
“Sometimes (let us) put our national team in a cinema and make them watch themselves playing football so that they see and feel what we go through,” he said.
However, some fans differed.
Onesmus Nkonde opined, “The goal should be to fix the engine while the car is running, rather than parking it in the garage for years and letting the battery die.”
Tobias Banda argued, “What is killing Zambia is lack of selfless leadership in football because all want to milk the dying cow at the same time.”
FAZ has been beset by squabbles in recent times.
Keith Mweemba has led FAZ since May 2025 after elections preceded by a court injunction that saw the initial exercise set for March were postponed.
Mweemba was among candidates that were initially disqualified from challenging incumbent Andrew Kamanga, whose tenure was marred by allegations of financial impropriety.
Kamanga’s administration faced widespread criticism over the timing of Grant’s dismissal.
The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) had previously warned FAZ that government interference could lead to sanctions or a ban from international football.
Zambia are placed 91st in the FIFA rankings and 19th in the continent, down from a peak of 15th globally and first in Africa in 1996.
– CAJ News