We go back to 1993 when the plane carrying Zambia’s national football team crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon. Zambia is the only country in the world to have lost its national football team in a plane crash.
Journalist and author JAY MWEMBA has detailed the events surrounding the tragedy in his book ‘The Crash of the Buffalo’. Former Nigerian Super Eagle, EFAN EKOKU joined us as we explored with JAY the profound impact the disaster had on the nation.
EFAN highlighted the team’s talent – it was considered the finest in Zambia’s history. The Buffalo military plane had a history of problems, Jay tells us how some of the players were concerned.
Economic hardships forced the team to use military transport instead of commercial flights.
The crash led to national depression and grief that lasted for years. Zambia’s football fortunes have struggled since the tragedy – but victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 was seen as a tribute to the lost team. The final was played in Libreville, the Gabonese capital, not far from the site where the ill-fated team perished. JAY’s book devotes a chapter to
'The Ghosts of Libreville’.
The tragedy united the country in grief and anger, highlighting the importance of football to the nation.
Order your copy of Jay Mwamba’s book ‘Crash of the Buffalo’ from info@pitchpublishing.co.uk
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