On 10th October, 2004, Zambia sent a young team to Congo for a World Cup qualifier.
No one gave the Chipolopolo Boys chance but they stunned the home side and came back home with maximum points.
Congo featured former Blackburn defender Christopher Samba off the bench in that game.
Who can guess the starting line up?
Below ZamFoot Crew takes a look at the men who battled in Congo a decade ago.
Kennedy Mweene – He started ahead of Kalililo Kakonje and he accounted for himself well until late in the game when he allowed two late goals.
Went to win AFCON and named the best goalkeeper in 2012. Set to leave Sundowns at the end of the season after being starved of game time.
Clive Hachilensa – Started at right back and now retired. Should be in Ndola or Kabwe.
Joseph Musonda – The legendary full back started at left back. AFCON winner and Zambia’s most capped player is still going strong at Nkana, playing in central defence.
Billy Mwanza – Frozen by Herve Renard after the Frenchman tookover.
Now youth team coach either Nkana or Power Dynamos.
Misheck Lungu – Was a holding midfielder by then coach Kalusha Bwalya converted him to central defence. And he was handed the captain armband. This marked the end of Sashi Chalwe.
Lungu has an academy in one of the Lusaka Compounds which plays in a non-league or simply Super Amature.
Ian Bakala – He is the last natural attacking midfielder Zambia’s has had. Last featured for Zambia at the 2008 AFCON. After spells on Angola and Zimbabwe, the dreadlocked midfielder is keeping fit with Lusaka Dynamos.
Isaac Chansa – Back at Zanaco. He will start on the bench for Zambia this afternoon. Another AFCON winner.
Chris Katongo – Started on the right wing and if someone said he will be lifting the AFCON and captain the Chipolopolo then you could have been called a joker. He is on the bench.
Numba Mumamba – He was one of the veterans of the team. He is now head coach at Zanaco and leading them in CAF Confederations Cup.
Harry Milanzi – Another veteran in the team started alongside new kid on the block Collins Mbesuma. Now coaching Napsa Stars youth team.
Collins Mbesuma- Having scored a brace on his debut, this is game which made Mbesuma enter into the Chipolopolo folklore. An away hatrick in a hostile environment.
Substitutes:
Jacob Mulenga – Replaced Numba Mumamba in the 50th minute. Missed out on AFCON medal through injury. Now playing in China.
Ackson Phiri – Came in for Ian Bakala as a late sub. Mischeck Lungu was pushed back in midfield.
One of a few caps he won. At the time, he was playing for City of Lusaka. Ended his career at Napsa Stars.
Rotson Kilambe – Who would have thought Mbesuma would start ahead of Kilambe? Kizo replaced Milanzi in the 55th minute.
Now assistant coach at Lumwana Radiants.
Coach: Kalusha Bwalya – At the time, combined roles as coach and FAZ Vice President then he went on to be FAZ President.
Wow that was talent assembled… looks the more you look back, the you miss Kalusha.
stop living in the past. kalu is gone…. wake up
He’s not gone mudala, he will be back!
yes let him support one of our teams so that after 5 yes he comes back
Nice review and welcome updates- Zambia did well on Sunday could have easily beaten Congo by 2 0r 3 goals- good work by technical bench- Zambia looked completely different in the second half as compared to the second half in Ndola.
This was Kennedy Mweene’s first cap at senior level. I remember I was jittery with him in the goal as he tended to fumble with the ball in his hands,
One thing about Kalu as coach he was never risk-averse. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it backfired…on this day his gamble paid.
But how is the archive photo related to the Congo game? In the photo i see the late Mumba, formelrly of Lusaka Dynamos and Dudley Fichite who are not mentioned in the analysis, am confused