Zambia’s national team arrived home to an ecstatic welcome from thousands of fans who gathered to greet the Copper Bullets after they won the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title.
Brandishing the gold trophy they claimed in a nail-biting penalty shootout against Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday, the African champions waved to a massive crowd that had been gathering for more than nine hours in sweltering heat at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the capital, Lusaka.
The team then boarded a bus for the Lusaka show grounds, where an estimated 200,000-strong crowd dressed in the orange, green and black of the national team had gathered for official celebrations after an unofficial all-night party.
The crowd sang solidarity songs while others blew vuvuzelas, and when the team finally entered the arena police had a tough time trying to control the situation.
The Zambian players, dressed in matching blue suits and red ties waved to the crowds as they passed the trophy from one player to another.
Amid chaotic scenes, Zambia’s vice president Guy Scott and the team were soon whisked away, a move that angered some of Lusaka’s football-crazy residents.
“This is poor organisation. They keep us here the whole day and leave without saying anything. This is rubbish,” moaned Barbara Zulu, dressed in Zambian colours and with her face painted.
The 8-7 win on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sunday’s final had emotional overtones for Zambia.
The final was staged in the Gabonese capital Libreville, off whose coast a military aircraft carrying the 1993 Zambian national squad plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 30 players, officials and crew on board.
… and win bonus
The Zambian government has given $59,000 to each player in the national side which won the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, the sports minister said Tuesday.
“The government has given each one of you $59,000, and that is beside what the corporate organisations might decide to give. This money is from the government,” Chishimba Kambwili said on national radio.
The award is a princely sum in a nation where, per capita, the gross domestic product is less than $1,500.
Zambia defeated hot favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sunday’s final, which had emotional overtones for Zambia.
The final was staged in the Gabonese capital Libreville, off whose coast a military aircraft carrying the 1993 Zambian national squad plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 30 players, officials and crew on board.
The victorious national team returned home Monday, sparking a near stampede at the Lusaka show grounds where 200,000 people gathered to celebrate the Chipolopolo Boys (Copper Bullets).
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com