After a checkered history that saw them finishing as runners-up twice, and in third place three times, Zambia finally bagged their only Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012.
Chipolopolo emerged victorious when Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-hosted the African football showpiece, as the Zambians celebrated at the same place that saw their heroes’ plane crashing on the shores of Libreville in 1993.
Zambia started their Group A campaign with an unexpected 2-1 win over Senegal, followed by a 2-2 draw with Libya.
Christopher Katongo’s lone strike gave them the win over hosts Equatorial Guinea to reach the quarterfinals where they cruised 3-0 over Sudan.
In the semifinal, Emmanuel Mayuka scored 12 minutes from time as Zambia defeated Ghana 1-0.
A barren stalemate with Ivory Coast in the final meant the game went to penalties. Stoppila Sunzu scored the decisive kick as Chipolopolo won 8-7 to lift their first-ever Afcon title.
It was their third appearance in a final, after falling at the final hurdle in 1974 and 1994. Frenchman Hervé Renard was the coach for Zambia during the tournament, having led the team from 2011 to 2013.
For Ivory Coast, it was also the third time they had advanced to the final, after winning the title in 1992 and finishing second in 2006. The Ivorians would, however, go on to lift the title for the second time in 2015. In fact, Renard was in charge of Ivory Coast at the time – making him the first coach to win an Afcon title with two different countries.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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