Being from a West African country, it is normal to vaguely consider some countries outside the region. Beyond the major powerhouses of the regions (South Africa – South Africa, East Africa – Kenya, Central Africa – Congo, North Africa – Egypt) and those with outstanding attraction and history (Tanzania – Mt. Kilimanjaro, AU/Ethiopian Airways – Ethiopia, Idi Amin/Museveni – Uganda, Kagame – Rwanda), the rest just sit out of sight, except for someone intentional. Tournaments like the African Cup of Nations do well to bring some of these countries into our consciousness.
The first time I heard of Zambia, was in 1994 on a football calendar that captured the final of Tunisia’94. It was a historic outing not just for Nigeria and Zambia – the finalists – but for the world of football. Zambia had just lost their first team to a plane crash in April of the previous year.
Recently in Morocco 2022, the female Zambian team would win the Nigeria Super Falcons to clinch the 3rd place spot in the tournament.
Asides from producing the Chipolopolo (copper bullets) team and the gracious Mosi-oa-Tunya (aka Victoria Falls), what else could this quiet country of Kenneth Kaunda offer?
Ride with me on this trip to Zambia in my travel series THOUGHTS FROM Zambia.
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