. Soccer fan
By FELIX MALUNGA –
A BREATH of fresh air finally swept through Zambia last night after the Chipolopolo salvaged the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) dream with a resounding 3-0 victory over Niger in Ndola.
The party started soon after Rainford Kalaba gave Zambia the lead on 58 minutes before Emmanuel Mayuka and Kennedy Mweene completed the rout in the last 30 minutes of this midweek AFCON Group F qualifier at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
A joyous mood swept through the stadium which had over half its 40,000-capacity as the Chipolopolo anthem rung around this elegant structure.
Celebrations extended to the dressing room where the players broke into song while applauding their efforts.
An ecstatic Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili thanked the players for giving Zambia a ‘perfect’ Golden Jubilee gift.
When he addressed the players in their dressing room, Kambwili said: “I told you yesterday that you can do it and you have done it. You were carrying the emotions of 14 million Zambians. This is a perfect victory, coming a week before we celebrate our Golden Jubilee.”
He assured the players of Government’s continued support to ensure the Chipolopolo qualified to the 2015 AFCON finals in Morocco.
Kambwili also appealed to the local media to report positively about the team, saying negative write-ups were not good for the Chipolopolo’s morale.
A visibly shocked Niger Sports Minister, Dan Mallam Abdoul Karim had no words to say: “I can’t say anything, my English is not good.”
Football Association of Zambia president, Kalusha Bwalya thanked the squad for the efforts in ensuring the Chipolopolo keep their hopes of qualifying to the AFCON finals.
A horde of fans lined-up at the entrance of the VIP entrance to salute the players as they made their way onto a Higer bus from the stadium.
There was jubilation across Ndola as fans thronged into drinking joints to quench their thirsts after enduring three games without a win in the qualifiers.
Zambia will next face Mozambique in Maputo before wrapping up with Cape Verde later next month to decide the two Group F qualifiers to Morocco.
