By Victor Kanayo
You remember virtually the entire members of the Zambia National Team, who died in an ill-fated plane crash en route to a World Cup qualifying match in 1993?
It is now exactly 30 years the unfortunate incident happened, and the Zambian Football is planning to commemorate it.
The event is slated for Friday April 28, 2023, Reuters reports.
Recall that 18 footballers were among 30 people killed, when a Zambian Air Force plane crashed off the coast of Gabon, shortly after a refuelling stop on a journey to Dakar, where Zambia were to play a World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.
The bulk of the team were experienced internationals, fancied to emerge top of their final round qualifying group and secure a first-ever World Cup final appearance at the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Engine failure after takeoff from Libreville, caused the plane to crash into the sea, killing all on board including the coaches, support staff and crew.
A year after the crash, the team were surprise finalists at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, losing 2-1 to Nigeria.
However, the team eventually won the AFCON title in Gabon, the site of the crash, 20 years after.
According to organisers, Friday’s ceremony, will commence from a monument in the shadows of Lusaka’s Independence stadium, where the players who died in the crash were buried.
Those who will pay tribute at the new National Heroes Stadium built nearby.
