Has Zambia Ever Won AFCON?

Zambia's trophy history

Zambia's only Africa Cup of Nations title, won in 2012, carries an extraordinary emotional weight because of where it was won: the final was played in Libreville, Gabon, close to the site where a plane carrying the entire Zambian national team crashed in 1993, killing all 30 people on board, including 18 players. Nineteen years later, a new generation of Zambian players beat Ivory Coast on penalties after a goalless final, a result widely seen across the continent as a tribute to those lost in the disaster. Zambia had never previously won the tournament, and striker Christopher Katongo, the tournament's Player of the Tournament, dedicated the win directly to the victims of the 1993 crash. It remains Zambia's only major trophy, and they have never qualified for a World Cup.

Zambia's senior international honours

Zambia's World Cup record

Zambia's notable tournament finishes

Legendary Zambia players

• Christopher Katongo — Captain and Player of the Tournament at the 2012 AFCON, dedicating the win to the 1993 plane crash victims.
• Kalusha Bwalya — Zambia's greatest-ever player, who survived the 1993 crash only because he was traveling separately, and later served as team president during the 2012 win.
• Stophira Sunzu — Scored the winning penalty in the 2012 final shootout against Ivory Coast.

Interesting facts about Zambia

• Zambia won the 2012 AFCON final in Libreville, Gabon, near the site of the 1993 plane crash that killed the entire national team.
• Kalusha Bwalya, Zambia's greatest player, missed the fatal 1993 flight because he was traveling separately from a club match, and later led the federation during the 2012 triumph.
• Zambia has never qualified for a men's World Cup.
• The 2012 AFCON win is considered one of the most emotionally significant title runs in African football history.

Zambia frequently asked questions

Teams related to Zambia

NigeriaEgyptCameroonAlgeriaTunisia