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CAF
09-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Rainford Kalaba (Zambia) : "You never wear this jersey just for yourself'
Iconic figure of Zambia's historic triumph at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2012, Rainford Kalaba has swapped his boots for training shoes. Now 37, the former attacking midfielder of TP Mazembe is currently part of the Zambia U-17 national team's technical staff, serving as a fitness coach. A discreet but valuable career shift, right at the heart of an ambitious youth development project led by the Zambian Football Association. Competing in the CAF TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia has qualified for the quarter-finals, where they will face Burkina Faso on Thursday at the Laarbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. Even better: the young Chipolopolo have already secured their spot at the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, set to take place in Qatar this November In this interview, Rainford Kalaba reflects on the impact of the 2012 continental title, his new mission with young talents, and the keys to succeeding at this level. Rainford, you were one of the key players in Zambia's golden generation of 2012, the team that brought home the country's first continental title. What impact did that victory have on your career? Rainford Kalaba: It was an incredible honour to be part of that journey. That title opened so many doors for us — for me and for many others. After 2012, several Zambian players saw their careers take off. Just taking part in an AFCON is a big deal but becoming champions against some of Africa's top stars — that's unforgettable. It's not something everyone gets to experience. Today, you've gone from player to fitness coach with the U-17 team. How are you finding this transition? The most important thing was helping this group qualify for the World Cup. That's a huge milestone for this generation. Now that they've done it, our focus is on the rest of the AFCON. Reaching the final would be fantastic. We have to keep working hard and stay focused. Hard work always pays off. In your view, what are the main differences between your generation and the one you're working with today? Today's young players want to make a name for themselves, to be known across the continent — and that's a good thing. Playing for an African national team at U-17 level is about laying the foundation for a career. This generation wants to shine, go far, make a lasting impression. They've reached the quarter-finals and they don't want to stop there. That's exactly the mindset they need. What have you learned from working with them? They're focused, ambitious, determined to be recognised across Africa and even globally. They want to play for big clubs, in major leagues. And that's great. When you get the chance to represent your country at U-17 level, that's when your career path really begins. Was there a moment during the tournament that really impressed you? The match against Morocco, the host nation. Those kinds of games are always very tough — you're not just playing against eleven players, but against an entire crowd, a loud and passionate public. That day, our boys showed admirable focus. They followed the instructions and stayed disciplined. That's the foundation. On the pitch, they have to manage themselves, and they did it perfectly. What message would you like to send to young Zambian players who dream of representing their country, like you did? The most important thing is to stay focused and understand that when you wear this jersey, you never wear it just for yourself. You represent your family, your supporters, your country. You play for an entire nation. You have to honour them, impress them, repay their faith. And there's no secret to it: hard work, discipline, and perseverance. The sky is the limit. As a former champion and mentor, what would you say is the key to success in a tournament like the U-17 AFCON? Respecting the instructions. Since the start of the tournament, the boys have been listening, following the game plans. That's what makes them strong. If they had strayed from that path, they'd already be out. Now they're in the quarter-finals, and they're hungry for more. I tell them to hold on to that belief, that discipline, that desire to go beyond their limits. The rest will follow naturally. Zambia is now qualified for the U-17 World Cup. What are your goals for that tournament? AFCON is already a high level, but the World Cup is another step up. If our players manage to make their mark there, to shine on the world stage, many opportunities will open up for them. Agents, academies, professional clubs will take notice. It's a unique chance to change their lives — and I truly believe they can do it.
CAF
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco and Zambia share the spoils
After their brilliant performance in the opening match of the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF U-17 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, winning 5-0 against Uganda, Morocco hoped for a second consecutive victory against Zambia to secure their spot in the quarterfinals of the competition. Nabil Baha's men faced strong resistance from the young Chipolopolo, who gave them very little space. In the first half, both teams observed each other for a long time, offering very few chances of threat. The match became slightly more lively after the break, although both sides were still not very indecisive in the final third. While Morocco continued to push for control of the game, their momentum was halted by the expulsion of their defender Hamza Mouhadi, who made an illegal challenge on Zambian forward Kelvin Mulenga Chipelu in the 75th minute. Vincent Kabore, the Burkinabe referee, used the VAR to make this decision, which could have been the turning point of the match. Zambia nearly took advantage of their numerical superiority in added time, but substitute Gabriel Phiri's late effort could not find the back of the net (90+5). Despite being a player down, Morocco laboured until the end but failed to take two good opportunities in the final moments. Ahmed Mouhoub's shot, completely unmarked in the Zambian defense, flew well over the bar (90+7), while Ilies Belmokhtar also squandered one last chance in the final seconds, misfiring a shot in the box. With this goalless draw, Morocco and Zambia share the top of Group A with 4 points each. Earlier, Uganda triumphed 3-0 over Tanzania and occupies third place with 3 points, while Tanzania, after two consecutive defeat remain bottom of the group. Morocco will seek qualification against Tanzania on Sunday on Match Day 3, while Zambia will face Uganda in a crucial final day tie.
Morocco World
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco vs Zambia: When, How to Watch & Score Prediction
Morocco and Zambia go head-to-head today in their second Group A match at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations. Both teams opened the tournament with emphatic wins and now meet at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia with the first spot on table at stake. Kick-off is at 8 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT) and fans can catch the action live on Arriyadia. Morocco dominated Uganda in their opener, winning 5-0 in front of a moderate home attendance. Ilies Belmokhtar and Driss Aït Chiekh struck early, putting the game beyond Uganda inside ten minutes. Ziyad Baha converted a penalty before Belmokhtar added his second, and Baha rounded off the win in the second half. Head coach Nabil Baha warned his players not to get carried away. 'We told them to forget Uganda. That game is over. Zambia is strong, and we need full focus,' he told FRMF channel after last night's training. Zambia also started well, easing 4-1 past Tanzania. The young Chipolopolo know how to handle the pressure of facing a host nation. They beat Niger in 2015 and edged Morocco 2-1 in their last group-stage meeting in 2023. Score Prediction Morocco's attacking flow and juggernaut is expected to have the upper-hand and will test Zambia's defense but the visitors will be lurking, ready to pounce if the opportunity presents itself and strike with fast counters. Verdict: Morocco 2-1 Tanzania Tags: Moroccou17 afconU17 MoroccoZambia
The Guardian
21-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘We've had enough': anger threatens Zambian football after election controversy
Zambia's victory at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon remains one of football's most compelling stories. Returning to the country where most of the Chipolopolo squad had been killed in a plane crash almost two decades earlier en route to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal, Zambia defeated the heavy favourites Ivory Coast in the final on penalties to become African champions for the first time. But you won't find any trace of that famous triumph at the Football Association of Zambia's headquarters in Lusaka. 'If you walk into Football House today, you will never find a single picture of what is our greatest achievement,' says Godfrey Chikumbi, a journalist and the vice-president of Mansa Wanderers in Zambia's northern Luapula province. That, he says, is down to Andrew Kamanga, who in 2016 succeeded Kalusha Bwalya, one of the few surviving members of the 1993 squad, as president of the FA (Faz). 'He has removed the pictures and shredded them,' Chikumbi says. 'Kamanga doesn't want to be associated with it because of Kalusha. He doesn't like competition.' This week Kamanga was granted a third term in office after eight nominees were controversially disqualified from standing against him in elections scheduled for next month because they failed to meet 'constitutional requirements'. They included candidates having to pass an integrity test and having five years' experience in a Faz leadership position – a stipulation that it has been claimed was added after the regulations were confirmed at last year's annual general meeting. Kamanga's unopposed re-election was described as the 'joke of the century' by the lawyer Keith Mweemba, the owner of the Zambian Super League club Muza who was one of those barred. Faz's former general secretary Adrian Kashala was another of the eight. They have until next week to appeal, although Kamanga – a 58-year-old accountant who made his fortune through his ownership of a power utility company – has been declared the winner by Faz's electoral committee. 'It tells you that the appeal process is academic,' says the president of another leading Zambian club who does not want to be named. 'They have definitely jumped the gun.' Chikumbi was ruled out after being deemed to not have the necessary experience and has decided against an appeal. He reported Kamanga and other senior members of Faz to Zambia's anti-corruption commission and its drug enforcement commission (DEC), which handles allegations of fraud and malpractice, a few hours after the news was made public on Tuesday, claiming they forged and altered the constitution to prevent the other candidates from standing. 'I feel that [an appeal] would be wasting my time,' Chikumbi says. 'So the best thing for me to do was then go to the courts, where I know that justice will be guaranteed.' Fifa prohibits government interference in any national association and may impose a normalisation committee on Zambia if the courts overrule Faz's decision over the elections. 'I would rather be banned by Fifa because Andrew Kamanga has been committing crimes against football in Zambia and getting away with it for many years,' Chikumbi says. World football's governing body did not respond to a request to comment. It is understood several of the prospective candidates are considering taking the case to the court of arbitration for sport if Fifa does not intervene. A boycott of domestic matches is also believed to have been discussed. That could be deeply damaging to Kamanga, who will run for a seat on the Fifa council in elections due to take place on 12 March in Cairo and has been backed by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) and Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa). He was cleared to stand by Fifa's review committee despite being charged by the DEC with obtaining government funds under false pretences and being part of a conspiracy to defraud last year . Those charges put the women's team's participation at last year's Olympics at risk. It has been alleged that Kamanga used government funds to arrange trips for two associates to the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast last year. Faz's general secretary, Reuben Kamanga, was also arrested and charged, along with Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame, who travelled to the tournament as part of Faz's support staff. All have denied the charges. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The DEC confirmed last week that the case remained active, despite discussions having been initiated regarding a potential out-of-court settlement. According to Chikumbi and the other candidates, that should have made Andrew Kamanga ineligible to stand in the elections because the regulations prevent anyone who is the subject of pending criminal investigations from taking part. 'We all expected that he was going to stand down,' Chikumbi says. 'But to find himself on the ballot and ultimately [being declared] the winner unopposed is rather shocking. It's like being in jail and appealing your conviction and then saying: 'Because I've appealed I'm a free man, let me go home.' You wait until it has been determined. At the moment, he is a man accused of serious crimes and we don't recognise him as the president of Faz until we have proper elections.' Kamanga did not comment when contacted by the Guardian but pointed towards the DEC statement released last week that confirmed 'consultations on the possibility of an out-of-court settlement commenced. This route is still under way.' He has also faced criticism for his handling of the sexual misconduct allegations against the former Zambia women's team coach Bruce Mwape, who remains under investigation by Fifa after allegations that he intentionally touched the breast of a Fifa contractor and rubbed his hands over the chest of a player after a training session at the Women's World Cup in 2023. Mwape was replaced by Nora Hauptle last month but 'remains a core member of our wider technical development programme', according to a Faz statement at the time. 'They want to flout the rules when it's convenient for them but we've had enough,' says the club president. 'We would rather not play football at all than have Kamanga staying on as a dictator.'
CAF
18-02-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON: Bakala banking on previous edition experience for better showing in Morocco
Head coach of the Zambia U-17 national team, Ian Bakala believes the team much better in this year's TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Southern African nation is preparing for its third TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON appearance following their 2015 and 2023 appearances that both concluded in the group stages. The Junior Chipolopolo side heads to Morocco as champions of the Southern African region after lifting the COSAFA title that earned them a place in the continental showpiece where they have been drawn in the same group with tournament hosts Morocco, Tanzania and Uganda. The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON will take place from 30 March to 19 April 2025 and will also serve as a qualifier to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 where Africa will be represented by 10 teams. Speaking after the draw, Bakala welcomed the outcome, stating that the team's goal was to do better than their last edition where they could not advance from the group stages in Algeria. 'We are looking to do well than our last appearance and looking at the boys we have, we are going to do much better. We just have to be strong. It's a good test for us. Looking at the competition we are playing, I think a lot of countries have good players who are playing in Europe but for us, we have a local team with one or two expected but all round, we are going to do much better than before', said Bakala. Giving his assessment on Zambia's Group A opponents, the 44-year-old former Zambian star, who has three TotalEnergies CAF AFCON tournaments to his name said Morocco will be the toughest team to face. 'We know how the North African teams play. One team that I think is stronger than the others is Morocco. Looking at the other two countries, we have played Tanzania in the other youth tournaments which I think they did well. They have a good side, and we are ready for them and Uganda. We will definitely qualify. We don't have an excuse. We have to take it a game at a time, and I think the first game will be the most important one', concluded the coach. Zambia will be aiming to become the first Southern African nation to lift the continental youth title. Angola and South Africa are the only Southern African nations to achieve a podium finish, with South Africa finishing second in 2015, while Angola secured a third place finish in 2019.
