African football icon Kalusha Bwalya featured at six African Cup of Nations tournaments.
The 1988 African Footballer of the Year started his AFCON journey in 1986 aged just 22.
He went to the 1992, ’94, ’96, ’98 and played his final tournament at the 2000 edition in Kano, Nigeria aged 36 years.
Kalusha scored 10 goals and is the only player to have scored at 6 consecutive African Cup of Nations tournaments.
He scored a goal each at the ’86, ’92, ’94, ’98 and 2000 finals while his other 5 goals came at the South Africa ’96.
At ’86 and ’00 edition he scored from the spot and 9 of his goals all came in the group stage.
The only time he scored in the knockout stage was at ’94 in the semi finals against Mali.
The famous Zambian no.11 normally played wide and at times as a no.10.
Below the ZamFoot Crew takes a look at ‘Great Kalu’s goals.
Egypt 1986 African Cup of Nations
Having failed to qualify to the 1984 edition, Zambia returned at the African Cup of Nations.
Zambia was making her 4th appearance [1974, 1978, 1982].
In the squad, Zambia had a certain Charles Musonda, 16, Derby Makinka, 20, Wisdom Chansa, 21 and Kalusha Bwalya, 22 all making their debuts.
Group B
Zambia 2-3 Cameroon (Micheal Chabala 65′, Kalusha Bwalya 77′ pen l Roger Milla 46′, M’fede 67,’ 82′ pen)
Algeria 0-0 Zambia
Morocco 1-0 Zambia
Winners: Egypt
Group Stage: Zambia bowed out of the tournament in the group stage
Team of the Tournament: Kalusha was named in the CAF XI with Roger Milla upfront. Milla was tournament top scorer with 4 goals.
Senegal 1992 African Cup of Nations
Kalusha returned to AFCON after missing two editions; In 1988 Zambia was stripped off hosting rights while 2 years later he missed through injury.
Kalusha was handed the armband aged 28 years.
The tournament was extended from 8 countries to 12.
Group D
Zambia 1-0 Egypt (Kalusha Bwalya )
Ghana 1-0 Zambia
Quarter Final
Zambia 0-1 Ivory Coast
Winners: Ivory Coast
Group Stage: Zambia lost to eventual Ivory Coast in the quarter finals
Tunisia 1994 African Cup of Nations
On the back of the 1993 Gabon Air crash, then 30 years old, Kalusha Bwalya led a new look Zambia side to the AFCON final in Tunis.
Group C
Zambia 0-0 Siera Leone
Zambia 1-0 Ivory Coast (Kenneth Malitoli 79′)
Quarter Finals
Zambia 1-0 Senegal (Evans Sakala 38′)
Semi Finals
Zambia 4-0 Mali (Elijah Litana 8′, Zeddy Saileti 30′, Kalusha Bwalya 43′, Kenneth Malitoli 73′)
Final
Nigeria 2-1 Zambia (Emmanuel Amunike 5′, 47′ l Elijah Litana 3′)
Winner: Nigeria
Runners Up: Zambia
CAF Team of the Tournament: Elijah Litana, Harrison ‘Wawa’ Chongo were named in the CAF XI
South Africa 1996 African Cup of Nations
Kalusha Bwalya scored five goals as favourites Zambia came third.
This was arguably Kalusha’s best tournament. After the tournament he was voted as the 14th best player in the World.
Group B
Algeria 0-0 Zambia
Zambia 5-1 Burkina Faso (Kenneth Malitoli 18′, Kalusha Bwalya 24′, 35′, Dennis Lota 44′, Johnson Bwalya 45′)
Zambia 4-0 Sierra Leone (Kalusha Bwalya 2′, 9′ 84′, Mordon Malitoli 87′)
Quarter Final
Zambia 3-1 Egypt (Elijah Litana 53′, Vincent Mutale 65′, Dennis Lota 76′)
Semi Final
Zambia 2-4 Tunisia (Dennis Lota 68′, Hillary Makasa 90′)
Third/Fourth Play Off
Ghana 0-1 Zambia (Joel Bwalya 51′)
Winners: South Africa
Tournament Top Scorer: Kalusha Bwalya – 5 goals,
Team of the Tournament: Kalusha Bwalya, Elijah Litana
Best Player: Kalusha Bwalya
Burkina Faso 1998 African Cup of Nations
Kalusha Bwalya returned the armband in the second match against Egypt after Elijah Litana captained the side against Morocco.
Kalusha was now 34 years old
Group D
Morocco 1-1 Zambia (Tenant Chilumba 87′)
Egypt 4-0 Zambia
Zambia 3-1 Mozambique (Rotson Kilambe 16, Kalusha Bwalya 43′, Masauso Tembo 73,’)
Winners: Egypt
Group Stage: Another group stage exit by Zambia
Ghana/Nigeria 2000 African Cup of Nations
At the age of 36, Kalusha Bwalya’s last major tournament for Zambia
Group C
Egypt 2-0 Zambia
Zambia 1-1 Burkina Faso (Dennis Lota 16′)
Zambia 2-2 Senegal (Laughter Chilembi 52′, Kalusha Bwalya 87′ pen)
Winners: Cameroon
Group Stage: Zambia failed to go past group stage
Point of correction Editor
Zambia was ejected in the Quarter Finals having come out second in the group comprising Ghana, Zambia and Egypt. Zambia camo out second in a group of three teams having lost by a goal to nil to Ghana and beating Egypt by the same score line and was subsequently eliminated in the quarter final by Ivory Coast who went on to beat Ghana 11-10 in the final penalty shoot out.
Noted. Thank You
Looks like it was adidas all the way until 1996.
The copper jersey with or without black shorts never ceases to please.
In contrast the super eagles 1994 strip, hands down was one of the worst I have seen- like I don’t know what , maybe pajamas that were too too too tight.
(PS zamfoot , you have some very nice photographs in your archives , also tributes to the photographers who captured the beauty of zambian football for all eternity)