Opinion: Zambia wins African Cup of Nations against all odds

In what has got to be one of the most dramatic underdog stories of the New Year, the tiny (in soccer terms) nation of Zambia defeated arguably the strongest team on the African continent, Ivory Coast, on Feb. 12 in the final of the African Cup of Nations.

Going into the second round of penalty kicks, Zambia clinched the trophy after over 120 minutes of scoreless play from the two sides. What makes this victory truly remarkable is the fact that Zambia is ranked 71st by FIFA, compared to Ivory Coast’s 16th ranking.

The difference on paper between the two squads is profound, with almost all of Zambia’s players coming from smaller clubs on the African continent, or from some of Europe’s smallest professional teams. The Ivory Coast, on the other hand, is captained by perhaps the most famous African player in the world, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, and has a roster full of soccer’s superstars such as Drogba’s Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou, Arsenal winger Gervinho, and the brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure, who ply their trade for Manchester City.

Given the differences in ranking, squad depth, and top-flight experience, this match should have been practically decided before the first kick of the ball. In fact, practically no one should have expected Zambia to make it near the tournament’s final (let alone emerge victorious) with earlier matches against some of Africa’s strongest sides, such as Senegal and Ghana.

Zambia made it through these trials unscathed, led by their captain, tournament MVP, and joint-top-scorer Christopher Katongo, and guided by French coach Hervé Renard. In the end, the Zambian players, their coach, and their fans will forever be remembered as the giant killers who showed the world that rank, money, and expectation mean nothing when confronted by a team playing the beautiful game at its best.