By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) says the Zambia national soccer team will wear an exclusive new KoPa jersey at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations slated for next year in Ivory Coast.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said the new jersey will have a star to recognise Zambia’s success at the 2012 AFCON in Gabon.
Kamanga said Zambia’s appearance at the AFCON would give the KoPa brand which was launched in 2018 more visibility as it continues to grow.
“The first time we had KoPa was at the CHAN tournament in Morocco in 2018 so we have had a change every after two years and we actually have a third edition but the biggest announcement is that we have a special edition for the AFCON which will have a star so you will only see it on the 17th when we play our first game,” Kamanga said.
Meanwhile, the FAZ chief said the K55 million budget presented to Government for the Africa Cup of Nations covers the whole tournament up to the final.
Kamanga said that planning for a tournament as big as the AFCON required prudent projections which compelled FAZ to factor in all costs up to the final.
Speaking during an end-of-year media interaction at The Deck in Lusaka’s Woodlands Township, Kamanga said 2023 had been a hugely successful year that had seen the Copper Queens feature at the FIFA World Cup and the Chipolopolo qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kamanga said the Copper Queens World Cup participation provided the biggest highlight of the year.
“The standout moments for us were the women’s participation at the FIFA World Cup and the Chipolopolo getting back to the Africa Cup. The women have also qualified for the WAFCON for the third time in a row,” Kamanga said.
