It’s by no means the final anyone expected but when Zambia and Ivory Coast take to the pitch on Sunday night in the Gabonese capital Libreville, a very special journey will already have been completed.

A shock 1-0 victory over Ghana on Wednesday meant Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) became the first southern African side to reach the African Nations Cup final since 1998. Remarkably for a team that contains only two players employed by European clubs, they have won four out of five matches so far thanks to the swift counter-attacking tactics employed by boss Herve Renard that have made Zambia every neutral fans’ favourite side.

Now an emotional return to Gabon beckons – almost 19 years after the plane crash that robbed the country of a generation of players hailed as one of the finest Africa has ever produced. Then known as the ‘KK XI’ after President Kenneth Kaunda, 18 members of the squad travelling to Senegal for a crucial World Cup qualifier perished when the Buffalo military aircraft they were travelling in crashed into the sea shortly after take-off from Libreville airport. 

Legendary captain and figurehead of the side Kalusha Bwalya was spared his life because he had planned to make his own way to the game from his home in Holland, where he played for PSV Eindhoven. But within a year of the tragedy, the famous playmaker who wore the number 11 shirt had led a totally new team by then known as Chipolopolo to the verge of World Cup qualification and their second appearance in an African Nations Cup final.

Bwalya eventually hung up his boots in 2000 following a successful spell playing in Mexico and took over as Zambia’s coach three years later, before being elected as President of the FA within months of stepping down.

He has since developed a reputation as a hard-headed administrator, a trait no better illustrated than during the sacking of Italian Dario Bonetti after he had led Zambia through qualification. That cleared the way for former Cambridge United manager Renard to reassume control of the team he guided to the quarter-finals in Angola two years ago with one mission in mind: to reach the African Nations Cup Final in Libreville.

Three weeks ago while he was with the side in South Africa preparing for the start of the tournament, I spoke to Bwalya for an article that appeared in The Independent newspaper. Despite being paired in the same group as favourites Senegal, he remained quietly confident that ‘something special’ might be about to happen.

“We have the individual talent, plus a good blend of youth and experience,” he said.

“But most importantly, the players have a great appetite for the game. I think this team is as good as any other that has represented Zambia.”

High praise indeed from the man voted Africa’s Player of the year in 1988. Yet led by the talismanic figure of captain Christopher Katongo (newly promoted to Warrant Officer by the Zambian Army for his four goals so far) in that famous number 11 shirt, now the rest of Africa are being forced to pay attention .

The mighty Ivory Coast are all that stands in the way in Sunday’s final, with Yaya Toure, Dider Drogba and co playing the type of ‘no-risk’ strategy that served Spain so well at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Scarred by the repeated failure of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, Les Elephants have yet to concede a goal in the tournament under pragmatic coach Francois Zahoui as they aim for their first African title for 20 years.

Something will have to give if Zambia’s third final appearance in a final is not to end in disappointment. But, regardless of the outcome in Libreville, they have already provided a fitting tribute to Bwalya and his former team-mates.