Nkausu reflects on AFCON 2012 with mixed emotions

2012 AFCON winner Davies Nkausu says a heavy cloud of broken promises hangs over Chipolopolo’s 10th anniversary since they were crowned African champions.

On February 12 , 2012  Chipolopolo  Zambia  won the AFCON on the third attempt when they beat Cote d’Ivoire 8-7 on post-match penalties at the end of a scoreless 120 minutes of extra-time in Libreville, Gabon after finishing runners-up in 1974 and 1994.

Nkausu said all they received were the standard match bonuses during the tournament plus K50,000 each from the Government but got none of the AFCON prize money, pledges and incentives promised to the team.

“It is about time the nation knew the truth. We have been hiding the truth for a very long time,” Nkausu said.

“Everyone else in Zambia thinks we got all the money that was published in the newspapers.

“The houses that we built, those were houses built using our own money we made.

“So we hope that on the 10th anniversary, we are praying and hoping that maybe they can give us something like a token of appreciation.

“The FAZ, the Government and hopefully the Minister of Sport can help us.”

The victory came in Libreville ,where in April 1993, their comrades died in an air crash en route to Senegal for a FIFA World Cup 1994 qualifier.

“You know, we have to pay respect to them because I believe on that day their spirit was with us without doubt,” Nkausu said.

“Moving forward I would like to thank all the 2012-ers, everyone who contributed to our success, even the guys who didn’t make it.

“All the guys who were pushing us to training and for the friendlies we played before that even for all the guys who were in and out of the team we have to appreciate them.

“But you know, winning that AFCON was God just blessing us for people to remember us by.”

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