Zambia’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team: Where Are They now?
What happened to the Chipolopolo side that conquered the continent eight years ago this week?
Eight years ago this week, Zambia achieved the most remarkable and emotional success in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations final when they defeated the Ivory Coast’s Golden Generation 8-7 on penalties in Libreville.
It was a stunning success for Herve Renard’s underdogs and was all the more memorable for Chipolopolo as they honoured the memory of the superb Zambia side that perished in an avian disaster in 1993.
While Zambia failed to build on their 2012 title success by qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, they will go down in history as one of the most remarkable sides—and incredible stories—in the history of African football.
Kennedy Mweene
Legendary keeper who’s amassed over 120 caps for the national side, representing Zambia at six Nations Cups.
He’s still with PSL giants Mamelodi Sundowns, having joined the club in 2013, and while he’s largely remained understudy to Denis Onyango, he’s still amassed significant silverware while with the Brazilians.
The 35-year-old has four PSL titles, as well as a Caf Champions Leaguewinner’s medal, and could add to those tallies this season.
Davies Nkausu
A versatile defender who was Zambia’s first-choice right-back at the Afcon, where he provided one of the tournament’s most memorable images when he was shoved in the chest and seemingly torn apart by coach Renard!
Nkausu had the last laugh, largely, silencing Gervinho in the final, although he’s struggled to build on that success in recent years.
A multi-time PSL champion with SuperSport United, he’s currently without a club after leaving Baroka in July.
Stoppila Sunzu
Slammed home the penalty shootout winner in the final, and has since played in France, Russia and China.
He’s currently with Chinese side SJZ Ever Bright, having signed from FC Metz earlier this month, and last featured for the Chipolopolo in their 5-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat by Algeria in November.
Hichani Himoonde
Arguably the unsung hero of the Class of 2012, Himoonde enjoyed success at Tout Puissant Mazembe like a few other members of this team, but struggled to make his mark in South Africa with Mamelodi Sundowns and left without ever making his competitive debut.
After further trying his luck with Black Leopards, he returned to his homeland with Power Dynamos in 2016, but never featured for Zambia again after 2013.
Joseph Musonda
A veteran of the 2006 Nations Cup by the time the 2012 tournament rolled around, Musonda amassed over 100 caps for the Chipolopolo but was replaced with injury 11 minutes into the final against the Ivory Coast.
Memorably, Renard carried the crocked left-back up to the podium to receive his award after the historic success.
The veteran enjoyed seven years in South Africa with Golden Arrows, and returned to his homeland with Nkana FC in 2015.
Last year, he scored in the Caf Confederation Cup at the ripe old age at 41, and was appointed as the club’s fitness trainer in November.
Chisamba Lungu
Creative wideman Lungu has spent the majority of his senior career in Europe, only returning to Africa with Zambia’s Buildcon in 2018 following a decade in Georgia, Russia and Turkey.
He’s currently with domestic heavyweights Nkana FC and is back in action after missing over six months of action in 2019 due to an injury sustained in Caf Confederation Cup action in March.
Isaac Chansa
Spent time at Orlando Pirates across two spells, memorably as part of a star-studded treble-winning side, and since leaving the PSL has represented clubs in China, India and Indonesia.
"An important part of my life was spent at Pirates,” he told the club’s official website in 2018, “and as the saying goes: ‘once a Pirate, always a Pirate’.
“I will always be a Buccaneer.”
He returned to Zanaco for a second spell in 2015, before Asia—and specifically Zakho of Iraq—came calling again two years later.
Most recently, he was appointed assistant coach of Zambian top tier side, Ndola-based Forest Rangers.
Nathan Sinkala
The more defensive of the midfield duo, Sinkala was only 20 when he stepped up to convert Zambia’s sixth penalty in the shootout, having played an influential role in their run to the final.
He’s spent much of the last eight years in Africa, despite twice making loan moves to Europe with Sochaux and Grasshopper Zurich.
He was a Caf Champions League winner with TP Mazembe in 2015, and earlier this year, signed for PSL new boys Stellenbosch FC.
Rainford Kalaba
Kalaba won the Champions League alongside Sinkala at Mazembe in ’15, even though he was sent off in the second leg of the final against USM Alger of Algeria.
The talented midfielder also tried his hand in Europe, and while he never made a mark at Sporting Braga, he did feature on loan for Gil Vicente and Leiria in Portugal.
He’s been with Mazembe since 2011, and netted for the Congolese giants in their Caf Champions League group-stage draw at Primeiro de Agosto in December.
Christopher Katongo
Model leader who won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award after captaining Zambia to the title.
Katongo’s club career never truly matched his international successes, although he did enjoy four years in Europe across spells in Denmark, Germany and Greece.
He was one of the first major African arrivals in Chinese football when he signed for Henan Construction—now Henan Jianye—in 2011, and also spent time with Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits.
Now 37, the Zambia great returned to his homeland with Green Buffaloes in 2015, and last represented Chipolopolo in 2016 before retiring a year later.
Emmanuel Mayuka
The one-time wonderkid was the jewel in the crown of Zambian youth football in the middle of the last decade, and was the youngest player to take part in the 2007 U-20 World Cup.
His performances as a teenager took him to Israel, then Switzerland, and he signed for Southampton in 2012, but left without ever scoring for Saints.
Since then he’s struggled to settle, and while he should be in his prime at 29, he returned to Zambia with Green Buffaloes last year and signed for NAPSA Stars earlier this month.
Felix Katongo
Fleet-footed winger who was introduced in the 74th minute of the final as Renard looked to exploit some tired Ivorian legs.
He’s had a nomadic career, representing clubs in Angola and France, with Stade Rennais, while also spending a brief time at Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the Afcon success.
The wideman, nicknamed Jet Lee, had to be pulled out of Libya due to the civil war whilst on the books of Al-Ittihad Tripoli, and has joined the army since hanging up his boots.
