HOME > NEWS > ZAMBIA CLEAN UP AT 2012 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS AWARDS

Zambia clean up at 2012 Africa Cup of Nations awards

Zambia clean up at Afcon awards

Posted: 2012-02-13 11:40

Chipolopolo proved at this Africa Cup of Nations that spirit and determination can take a team further than reputation and class.

Zambia captain Christopher Katongo was awarded the Man of the Competition award, with the Top Scorer award going to Emmanuel Mayuka.

The Chipolopolo skipper inspired his team to a first-ever Nations Cup victory, despite their underdogs tag, as they beat Ivory Coast 8-7 after an epic penalty shoot-out.

Katongo and his teammate Mayuka each got three goals in the tournament – as did Didier Drogba, Manucho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cheick Diabaté and Houssine Kharja – but Mayuka was given the award, perhaps because of his first-rate acrobatics.

The Team of the Tournament features four Ivorians and four Zambians, as well as Seydou Keita and Adama Tamboura of Mali and John Mensah of Ghana.

The big names that were talked up ahead of the Nations Cup, such as Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Demba Ba and Mamadou Niang, did not make the tournament XI, and although Gervinho does, his performances were ultimately overshadowed by the unlikely stars of Zamiba and their keeper, Kennedy Mweene.

In a tournament that many gloomily predicted would be "boring" without the powerhouses Egypt, Nigeria or Cameroon, Zambia, who were never even tipped as dark horses, gave fans one of the most exciting Afcon finals ever, catching the imagination and proving that big names do not equate to success, or even positive, charismatic football.

It is doubtful that the Ivorians' Fair Play Award will do much to dumb the pain of missing out on yet another title.

Tournament awards

Orange Man of the Competition: Christopher Katongo (Zambia)

Pepsi Top Scorer of the Competition: Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia)

Samsung Fair Player of the Competition: Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Cote d'Ivoire)

Fair Play Award: Cote d'Ivoire

Team of the Tournament

Kennedy Mweene (Zambia) – Gosso Jean-Jacques Gosso (Cote d'Ivoire), Stoppila Sunzu (Zambia), John Mensah (Ghana), Adama Tamboura (Mali) – Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia), Yaya Gnegneri Toure (Cote d'Ivoire), Kouassi Gervais Yao (Cote d'Ivoire), Seydou Keita (Mali) – Christopher Katongo (Zambia), Didier Drogba (Cote d'Ivoire)

Substitutes

Boubacar Barry (Cote d'Ivoire)
Fernando Da Gracia Gomez (Equitorial Guinea)
Youssef Msakni (Tunisia)
Mateus Contreiras Manucho (Angola)
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Sadio Diallo (Guinea)
Cheick Tidiane Diabate (Mali)
Eric Mouloungui (Gabon)
Houssine Kharja (Morocco)
Mudathir Eltaib Ibrahim (Sudan)
Rainford Kalaba (Zambia)
Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana)

Did you enjoy Zambia's performance? Let me know on Twitter @ProjectJennifer

Comment on this article:

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Benjamin: 2012-02-13 11:44

Mayuka didnt even make the bench but he is in the fisrt XL? Is he in or out?

Hoi Mash: 2012-02-13 11:51

Oviaaasssss, the Acrobatic Mayuka

vutomim@gmail.com: 2012-02-13 11:52

"The Team of the Tournament features four Ivorians and four Zambians, as well as Seydou Keita and Adama Tamboura of Mali and John Mensah of Ghana, however here Mayuka does not even make the bench".

I wonder what kickoff editors are doing when you have journos who always made silly errors. Now they say Mayuka did not make the bench yet from the 1st 11 you can see his name.

Swona Champ!: 2012-02-13 11:54

Pitso was also selected to be a ball boy during training!!

da sylence: 2012-02-13 11:59

were is chansa?

Sweyts : 2012-02-13 12:04

Congrats to the great Chris Katongo for almost single handedly hussling and bulldozing defenders for this title! It's well deserved!

I still think Kalaba deserves some recognition despite the penalty miss, he was very effective throughout the tourney.

Van Basten: 2012-02-13 12:04

Osman Berthe must convience that Cheick Tidiane Diabate guy to come join Cosmsos till end of this season. I like his style of play and hope Jomo does as well.

Scirocco 'R': 2012-02-13 12:21

And the lucky charm award goes to ??? hint: Ntho ts..... WOW his passes r on the class of der own.

ngangezwe: 2012-02-13 12:36

how are you feeling Clifford Mulenga?You could be hanging a medal in your house. Shame.

Undisputed Double-Trebble Champ Mopheme: 2012-02-13 12:40

Well done to Zambia..! They have been the most entertaining team from the start to the end of the tournament..! I really enjoyed their perfomances from game one..! I won't forget the following players;
Rainford Kalaba,
Emmanuel Mayuka,
Nathan Sinkala,
Stophira Sunzu,
Chisamba Lungu.
They are the players are enjoyed watching most..! Hail champ Chipolopolo..!!

Skepe Mketule: 2012-02-13 12:47

WHAT ABOUT MPHELA!!!

Mgugudi: The Treble Addict: 2012-02-13 12:51

Its an insult that every soccer magazine, news paper & soccer fundis all talk about Zambia's spirit and determination v/s reputation and class of Ivory Coast & Ghana et al. Zambian are also classy & very skillfull if compared to the rest at this years AFCON. The fact that they do not play for the so-called big teams in Europe who prefer robots does not make the like of Kantongo & company minors.

Zambia won because they had a great game plan, speedy, high work rate, sublimely skillful & played to their strength, dertemination & team spirit are just a plus to this great team. Let us give credit where its due without the whatnots, because I wonder what made the Ivory Coast the favourits because they are accomplished chockers....

tpaz: 2012-02-13 13:04

Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso......that guy can push the ball

STANCOVIC: 2012-02-13 13:21

Also courtesy of good leadership by Katongo, who marshalled his troops before, during and after the game. Kaatongo is a good leader, no doubt. Another crucial aspect from Zambia was team spirit, and thanks to the expulsion of Mulenga at an early stage. No star players, just played as a unit, and they managed to exceed the expectations. As simple as that.

sira : 2012-02-13 13:29

Chipolopolo faked d Elephant jersey 4 a reason

Tzozo : 2012-02-13 13:41

They forgot 2 include Isaac Chansa in the team of the tournament. Why leave the man out when Chibuku FC fans claim the man has singlehandedly won Zambia the cup. Instead they include Mweene who does not play for the Mighty Chibuku FC. This can,t be ryt.

Tzozo : 2012-02-13 13:46

......as if this is not bad enuff they didn't even include him in the reserves list. The man who singlehandedly won Chipolopolo the cup.

I'm sure the list selection was made jealous Kaizer Chiefs fans who are found all over Africa.

I WRITE WHAT I LIKE: 2012-02-13 13:49

CHRIS KATONGO MUST JUST JOIN CHIEFS!

King Haile Selassie : 2012-02-13 14:00

Hahahaha there's no rat in the team of the tournament.

fire: 2012-02-13 14:00

Masandawana, seeing as we are not likely to get Moorgan Gould, wouldn't Stoppila Sunzu be the ideal man to fortify our back four, granted we have exceeded our foreign quota for now?

kennyboober: 2012-02-13 14:13

well done chipolopolo

King Haile Selassie : 2012-02-13 14:14

Ofcourse Notokozo, he is a great guy. Mwanjali should be sacrificed 4 him.

Sporo: 2012-02-13 14:26

Kennedy Mweene deserve the award

Champ "Superbrand": 2012-02-13 14:28

Tzozo : 2012-02-13 13:41


They forgot 2 include Isaac Chansa in the team of the tournament. Why leave the man out when Chibuku FC fans claim the man has singlehandedly won Zambia the cup. Instead they include Mweene who does not play for the Mighty Chibuku FC. This can,t be ryt.

@Tzozo,
Which Bucs fan said Chansa single handedly won Zambia the trophy? Dont come here to kak!!! We are proud of Chansa, he was an important member of the squad, played all games and contributed a lot, remember the goal that send Zambia to the final, engineered by Chansa. My Team of the Tournament is all the Zambian eleven players and thier substitutes.

Champ "Superbrand": 2012-02-13 14:32

Tzozo : 2012-02-13 13:46 [ Report ]


......as if this is not bad enuff they didn't even include him in the reserves list. The man who singlehandedly won Chipolopolo the cup.

I'm sure the list selection was made jealous Kaizer Chiefs fans who are found all over Africa.

@Tzozo,

....As if its us who said you must support a stupid team that buys buy cheap labour in Zimbabwe, 6 Zimbos sis!!! Broke team. Its not our fault, leave us in peace to celebrate our Chansa's success. He has a gold medal, worked hard for it, created an important goal and converted his penalty, why all the jelousy?

Champ "Superbrand": 2012-02-13 14:34

I WRITE WHAT I LIKE: 2012-02-13 13:49 [ Report ]


CHRIS KATONGO MUST JUST JOIN CHIEFS!

@I WRITE WHAT I LIKE,

You have to make another Zimbo a South African because you have no space for a foreigner.

I h8 bucks nd its chairman  : 2012-02-13 14:36

Am thr hapist man dt a southrn afrn team won thr afocn bt i thnk zambia shuld drop chansa he nearly cost dam he ws losing thr bal eazy making faul at thr dangerous area hd cote divo tok thr chances dt chansa gv dam we could hv taking difrt storie

benzito: 2012-02-13 15:03

all hail king zambia, im happy with the team of the tournament and i suggest that fifa should make a tournament between best ix of africa, europe, asia, america and so forth and put a good price market it very well. the ghosts of 1993 are watching.

champ nespray is a movie star look-alike coach: 2012-02-13 15:14

stophila sunzu..oooh my my..this quality player can replace our honarable phinda mazala at de back...thats history in de making, for de first time i saw a playa taking a penalty kick while singing..oohhh
..............................
chansa played well n received a medal n dats wat matters de most in zambia and at pirates...a certain team was walloped 6-1 rugby score not long time ago...the wiping boys of 2012...it can take ivory coast 6 years to concede six while it took dem 45 minutes...shame on u botswana
.................................
plz dnt confuse bucs material to chimps n mamelodi mzimba shaker FC...u sign ur playas in zim, stop crying about kalaba, sunzu,hammmonde etc they belong to de home of champs cos they are champs...they dont associate wth bribes...u ruined the national team of zim n now u want to ruin zambia...that will never hapen in the name of khoza...he will protect zambia for chansa

Gazlam: 2012-02-13 19:11

Mayuka was given the award, perhaps because of his first-rate acrobatics.

It is hard to build credibility, yet so easy to lose it, KO editor. It's such low class reporting tt makes news consumers look elsewhere for in4.
A little reading would have empowered yo reporter with knowledge tt Mayuka got the award coz he had more assists than the other scorers. It sets him apart as an unselfish lad unlike others who sought personal glory @ expense of the team.
And the fool masquerading as a reporter puts Mayuka in the CAF XI & then say he couldn't make the bench. Hw stupid can tt be???

Myck: 2012-02-14 09:38

@ Sari,Zambia Never FAKED the elephants Jersey as you put it.We have worn the Copper Stripe since time immemorial.

zambia1: 2012-02-14 21:49

I would add that Ivory coast #15..Gradel? He is a workholic. Good player indeed.

1 luv Zed: 2012-02-24 13:02

Hate the game and dont hate the players Congrats Chipolopolo @ sira u are forgiven coz u dont know what u re talking about