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Zambia hoping for Gabon return

Zambia hoping for Gabon return

Posted: 2012-02-21 09:00

New African champions Zambia want to return to the site of this month’s Nations Cup triumph and play a friendly in Gabon next week.

Negotiations for an international match in Libreville on February 29 are in progress, the Football Association of Zambia said on Monday.

“For us Gabon is a special place. Firstly we would like to go and thank the people there; they looked after us very well,” spokesman Enock Mwanza told reporters in Lusaka.

“We won our first African Cup there. We lost an entire team there,” he said in a reference to their Nations Cup triumph on February 12 and the 1993 air crash in Libreville where the Zambian team of 18 players died.

Zambia had no plans for a friendly for next Wednesday’s FIFA date before their success in the Nations Cup, but say they now have several invitations for a hastily-arranged friendly in the wake of their unexpected triumph, with Gabon top of the list.

“A friendly against Gabon would be symbolic,” Mwanza added.

Zambia upset the Ivory Coast on post-match penalties to win the Nations Cup in Libreville earlier this month. Gabon co-hosted the Nations Cup with Equatorial Guinea.

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The Ghost: 2012-02-21 09:26

What the Zambians did was incredible as it was spectacular ...

Nebo: 2012-02-21 10:36

Easy win for Gabon,

Gabon republic should offer Zambia to build a museum, they had a lot to explain in Gabon

Amata Plus: 2012-02-21 10:36

KESHI INVITES INJURED KAITA!!!!!!

Our worse fears over keshi's commitment to building a solid SE are gathering steam!

It is being reported and confirmed by Tavria FC that Sani Kaita has not kicked the round leather in anger for the past two months!

What criteria did keshi use in inviting an injured player to 'play' a crucial match in kigali? Does this remind one of the inglorious shuaibu Amodu days? Guess this was one of the 'counsel' he gave keshi on his last visit to camp!

Are we really serious with our football? His agent, Tijani Babangida, says he must report to camp even it is with one leg! Wao!

TeellThemm: 2012-02-21 11:29

That will be a cracker of a match.

TeellThemm: 2012-02-21 11:41

@Amata Plus
About Keshi Inviting an Injured player to the camp, in person of Kaita, if it is true then what a shame,that bring the issue of zoning system that i keep talking about and zoning everything in our society that is killing us. I bet with anyone that this one of those thing Sia1 will never do. Okay he has invite him to please some quarter to the detriment of the nation and we call this what??. What a shame, i said Nigeria don't learn from past mistake, same mistake all over again for what?? so that the zoning will be complete even in our football. Sometimes Nigerians do stupid things and expect to get result, funny, you can't get result with this kind of approach or may be God will be called to help us in what a man can do. Nigeria problem is simple, people that has failed in human development are the one at the helm of affairs even in our dear football. The solution is simple let the best be at the right place by credentials and not by nepotism and tribalism.

skooll: 2012-02-21 13:24

THAT IS GRATE MOVE! MEANWHILE, ARE THEY NOT D SAME ZAMBIA THAT CURRENTLY PLAY GOAL LESS DRAW WITH SE UNDER CHIEF COACH STEPHEN KESHI,BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR TRIP FOR NATION CUP.
PERHAPS KESHI HAS PERFECTKY REINFORCE SUPER EAGLE TO COME BACK TO THEIR BEST OF FOOTBALL PLAY ROLL. MAY GOD BLESS US AND THANK U FOR GOOD WORK KESHI.....................MY REGARD TO YOU ALL.

skooll: 2012-02-21 13:30

THAT IS GRATE MOVE! MEANWHILE, ARE THEY NOT D SAME ZAMBIA THAT CURRENTLY PLAY GOAL LESS DRAW WITH SE UNDER CHIEF COACH STEPHEN KESHI,BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR TRIP FOR NATION CUP GLORY.
PERHAPS' KESHI HAS PERFECTKY REINFORCE SUPER EAGLE TEAM TO COME BACK TO THEIR BEST OF FOOTBALL PLAY ROLL. MAY GOD BLESS US AND THANK U FOR GOOD WORK KESHI.....................MY REGARD TO YOU ALL.

idris: 2012-02-21 14:58

well,i hv nt seen or heard kaita played club football fr a while nd if its true dt ha was injured..then i am really ashamed of Keshi nd Nigeria football bcos there r lots of fits nd energetic players training everyday bt wont get a recall...wat keshi is actually doing is inviting badluck to his own head bcos a good wine in old bottle will stil taste bad,if u invite lots of gud players.it only takes one bad one among them to spoil d whole hardwork..enuff said..

BigJ_Okocha: 2012-02-21 16:41

Well done Zambia. You won the AFCON for your Zambian people and/or fans and to no one else. Enjoy the glory. Zambian glory!!!

Nyembebe: 2012-02-21 18:16

i am also happy about Zambia's glory. This was the result of stuborn and faith put together. Zambian people were against the decisions made by it's federation president of re-hiring the winning coach. They even threatened not pay the coach. Kalusha belived in the french much against his gov and people. Zambians as the nation were behind the young guns who were prepared to die with their boots on.The faith and overwheliming support pushed them beyond their limit, no Ghana or Ivory Coast could stop the spirited Zambia. History does not count neither the big names could not count on the 12 Feb 2012, form and focus rule the day. Viva Zambia. Me from South Africa.

Segun: 2012-02-21 18:17

@Amata Plus, that was my sentiment when I wrote that our coaches should only invite players that they have seen in action either in highlights or full match situations recently. Well, as it is said that the great coaches are those who make the fewest mistakes: all coaches make error of judgement, I will advise that Keshi should immediately drop Kaita if the report is true and invite someone else to take his place. Do not take Babangida seriously. I wonder what he would have said if it was another player who was invited but has been injured for the past two months. If we are going to invite only 11 foreign based players (which is commendable), they must be the best at the time of invitation.

conversejoel: 2012-02-21 21:32

If Kaita is unfit, he should be dropped. I know that Keshi will not have him in camp if he is not fit. I suggest the bearer of this news should cross check his facts. I honestly do not believe Keshi would have invited him if he was not fit and playing.Mikel is now fit,but not playing,and that is why he is not on the list. So be careful before you judge Keshi.

conversejoel: 2012-02-21 21:32

If Kaita is unfit, he should be dropped. I know that Keshi will not have him in camp if he is not fit. I suggest the bearer of this news should cross check his facts. I honestly do not believe Keshi would have invited him if he was not fit and playing.Mikel is now fit,but not playing,and that is why he is not on the list. So be careful before you judge Keshi.

conversejoel: 2012-02-21 21:32

If Kaita is unfit, he should be dropped. I know that Keshi will not have him in camp if he is not fit. I suggest the bearer of this news should cross check his facts. I honestly do not believe Keshi would have invited him if he was not fit and playing.Mikel is now fit,but not playing,and that is why he is not on the list. So be careful before you judge Keshi.

conversejoel: 2012-02-21 21:32

If Kaita is unfit, he should be dropped. I know that Keshi will not have him in camp if he is not fit. I suggest the bearer of this news should cross check his facts. I honestly do not believe Keshi would have invited him if he was not fit and playing.Mikel is now fit,but not playing,and that is why he is not on the list. So be careful before you judge Keshi.

conversejoel: 2012-02-21 21:32

If Kaita is unfit, he should be dropped. I know that Keshi will not have him in camp if he is not fit. I suggest the bearer of this news should cross check his facts. I honestly do not believe Keshi would have invited him if he was not fit and playing.Mikel is now fit,but not playing,and that is why he is not on the list. So be careful before you judge Keshi.

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