The Maravi Post

MZUZU--The bad blood recent politics may have brought between Central African neighbours Zambia and Malawi—who have enjoyed a cordial relationship from the time of colonial ‘Stupid Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland’—has effectively been wiped off the face of the earth if the moral support the Chipolopolo Boys received from their Malawian cousins on Wednesday evening is anything to go by.

A host of Malawians who have been following the Africa Cup of Nations being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, crammed all nooks and crevices in bottle stores and bars, others from the comfort of their living rooms to watch and cheer on the Zambians as they struggled to beat top dogs Ghana 1-0 to earn themselves a final berth with Ivory Coast.

The Ivorians also beat Mali by the same margin in another semi-final derby played on the same day.

It was a match that kept Chipolopolo fans on the edge of their seats as the Black Stars mounted wave after wave of attacks from the first whistle, forcing the Zambians’ defence to work overtime.

Everyone thought it was going to be just a matter of time before Kennedy Mweene in goals for Chipolopolo would be picking the ball from behind his net.

That time nearly came as early as the seventh minute when Davies Nkausu fouled Kwadwo Asamoah in the penalty box and the referee pointed to the dreaded spot straightaway.

The noisy pub I was watching the match from in Mzuzu was reduced to a hush when Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the penalty. It was obvious spectators were holding their breath and hoping history would repeat itself when Gyan missed from the spot during the 2010 World Cup against Uruguay in similar circumstances.

Gyan took a deep breath and stepped up confidently to take the spot kick and the pub roared into a loud sigh of relief when Mweene stretched full length to palm the ball into touch for an abortive corner-kick to deny the Ghanaians an early lead.

Blasphemy aside, Mweene was in a big way the Zambians ‘saviour’ on this historic Wednesday evening when he saved about every shot coming his way.

And when Emmanuel Mayuka came off the bench to shoot the Chipolopolo Boys ahead with just about seven minutes to the end, with the Ghanaians reduced to 10 men, it was like adding more gunpowder to a smoking gogodera (muzzleloader).

The Malawian spectators, glued to the TV screens wherever they were, waited with bated breath for the final whistle.

And when it finally came after four minutes of added time, the celebration was too pronounced to miss. Cheers! And beers flowed freely. The Zambians had done proud to this part of Africa—the SADC region—by inching closer to making history.

They are now in the final where anything can happen. And whatever happens, the Chipolopolo Boys can rest assured their Malawian cousins are right behind them. The happiness on the Malawian fans clearly showed how steadfast they are on the back of Chipolopolo.

Go, Chipolopolo, go! Bring down the Elephants with one Chipolopolo on Sunday.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment