In April 1993 Team Zambia was on its way to Senegal for a qualifying match for the 1994 World Final. The military aircraft carrying the national football team, and coaches refuelled in Gabon. Shortly after take-off the military aircraft crashed off the coast of Gabon. There were no survivors. Nearly all of the Zambian football team perished. Kalusha Bwalya, the 1988 African Football Player of the year was traveling from Europe to meet his teammates in Senegal and was not on the ill-fated plane. Now 19 years later, he and Zambia are finally able to hold the African Cup of Nations trophy. Zambia defeated Ivory Coast, a heavy favorite in the 2012 final. After a scoreless tie at the end of regulation and extended time, Zambia won 8-7 on penalty kicks.
Team Zambia returned home to a hero's welcome. Many people took a day off in order to meet the team at the airport. Some may wonder why all the fuss over a football game; for Zambia it is about building an economy. The country's main product is copper, but Zambia wants to move beyond that. With the help of football, it hopes to develop other businesses, such as agriculture and tourism.
After the lost of a generation of football players, let's hope that Team Zambia and the Zambian economy are now moving in the right direction.
"For American fans it was a shame that the game, and the tournament, was not available on television. But nothing can take away a shred of delight from Zambia on the night they gave their fallen forefathers the ultimate tribute." - Yahoo Sports
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