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The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Andrew Kamanga, has urged the football community to honour the legacy of the players who perished in the 1993 Gabon air disaster by striving to achieve Zambia’s long-standing dream of qualifying for the senior men’s FIFA World Cup.
In a statement marking the 32nd anniversary of the tragedy on Monday, Kamanga said the nation owed a debt to the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of World Cup qualification.
“Though we have partially honoured their memory by winning the Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying junior teams for the World Cup, our senior men’s World Cup qualification remains an unfulfilled dream in our six-decade history,” Kamanga said.
He emphasised that achieving senior World Cup qualification would be the ultimate tribute to the late players.
Turning to current football matters, Kamanga highlighted the Under-20 Men’s National Team’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He noted their 1-1 draw against Sierra Leone in the opening match and encouraged the team to raise their performance ahead of their next fixture against Egypt on May 3.
“Initial matches can provoke anxiety, but we remain confident the squad will improve. We urge supporters and all stakeholders to rally behind these young men,” he said.
Kamanga also congratulated the Under-17 Women’s National Team for securing back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualifications and pledged greater investment in their preparations following last year’s early exit in the Dominican Republic.
On administrative matters, Kamanga informed FAZ members that preparations for the rescheduled Annual General Meeting (AGM) set for May 9 were progressing well.
“We have maintained our tradition of keeping members informed about the roadmap, including our challenges. Members should remain focused and not be swayed by online doomsayers, who, as Chinua Achebe might describe, are outsiders crying more loudly than the bereaved,” he added.
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