Nearly 10,000 kilometres separate Morocco from Zambia, but on Monday evening, the distance seemed to vanish at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammédia.

For Zambia’s first match against Tanzania in the CAF TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, abut thirty Zambian students, residing in Morocco, transformed the stands into a true fortress of fervour.

From the warm-up, their chants and cheers echoed, setting the tone for an evening where passion triumphed over distance.

“It’s our duty to be here,” explains Fumbani Sichiali, president of the Zambian Students Association in Morocco.

“As soon as we learned that the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations would be held in Morocco, we mobilized our community through social media to organize our presence and support our team.”

In the stands, Zambia’s colours dominated. Orange and green jerseys, flags, vuvuzelas, megaphones, and drums set the rhythm for every action of the Copper Bullets.

“As soon as the team stepped onto the pitch, I felt chills,” says Solomon Kamanga, a graduate in ecology.

A symbolic moment marked the protocol ceremony: the students were the first to sing “Proud and Free,” Zambia’s national anthem, which is also shared by Tanzania, their opponent on the day.

“When our little brothers sang it, I gave it my all,” says a student, still emotional. “When it was Tanzania’s turn, I sang a little less loudly, I admit,” she adds, laughing.

The excitement did not go unnoticed. Enchanted by the atmosphere, Amir and Mohamed, two young men from Casablanca, joined in the Zambian chants.

“It’s incredible! I’m dancing, singing, and even learning new words, like ‘lelo, lelo, lelo,’ which means ‘now’ to cheer for a goal,” Amir exclaims, beaming with joy.

On the field, Zambia responded to this fervour with a resounding 4-1 victory over Tanzania. A success celebrated with exhilaration by the supporters, for whom this match went beyond the sports realm.

“We represent the youth of our country, a talented and determined youth,” emphasizes Solomon. “They dream of the World Cup, and we will support them until they reach their goal, and beyond.”

Long after the final whistle, chants and dances continued to echo in the stadium, testament to an unwavering attachment. For these students, supporting Zambia in Moroccan land is more than just an act of fandom, it’s an affirmation of their identity and a celebration of the unifying power of football.

[CAF Online]8