With a team packed full of Europe-based talent and on a run of five straight wins without conceding a goal, mighty Ivory Coast is expected to win its second African Cup of Nations title on Sunday. Yet opponent Zambia has a strong, almost compelling reason, to finally succeed to honor the memory of its players who died in a plane crash 19 years ago. A first major title for two-time losing finalist Zambia in the same city where the 25 players and officials lost their lives nearly two decades back would be a hugely poignant moment. Zambia's soccer team coach Herve Renard, facing center, attends a training session in preparations for their African Cup of Nations final soccer match against Ivory Coast in Libreville, Gabon, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Zambia will play against Ivory Coast on Sunday Feb. 12, 2012 at Stade de L'Amitie in Libreville. Ivory Coast's mean defense and star-studded attack, led by captain Didier Drogba, undoubtedly makes it the favorite but the Zambians' emotionally charged run has ensured they can't be ignored. Their return to the site of their country's worst sporting disaster gives them a motivation that probably can't be calculated. Zambia's build-up since arriving in Libreville for the decider at Stade de l'Amitie has been centered on the tragic accident off the coast of the Gabonese capital 19 years ago, with players going to pay their respects at the small, nondescript stretch of beach where the ill-fated plane passed over before plunging into the sea. The Zambian squad laid flowers, sang songs and prayed in a moving ceremony on the shore that could only boost an already close bond between the players. It gave them a pre-match preparation that team talks and training sessions maybe couldn't match. They know they are not expected to win, but by beating the highly rated four-time champion Ghana in the semifinals to make the trip back to Libreville they also proved team rankings sometimes don't matter. “It will be a tough game against Ivory Coast. We are not favorites,” Zambia coach Herve Renard said. “We are very far from Ivory Coast like we were very far from Ghana but that does not mean anything. “I think they have respect for us and we have a lot of respect for them but we want to beat them.” Zambia still faces the toughest of tasks after top-ranked African team Ivory Coast charged through to the final, sweeping aside every one of its opponents to be within touching distance of the title that has eluded it for 20 years. A 3-0 win over co-host Equatorial Guinea in the quarterfinals in front of a partisan crowd of 40,000-plus ensured Ivory Coast's on-field form matched its pre-tournament hype. Drogba and fellow English Premier League forwards Gervinho and Salomon Kalou have impressed, midfield playmaker Yaya Toure has been quietly efficient and the formidable defense—marshaled by Kolo Toure—has yet to be breached. Ivory Coast has also displayed a strong unity within its own squad, with the talented individuals pulling together to ensure the team comes first. Coach Francois Zahoui said his team also has its own inspiration, hoping a long-awaited title for the country will help heal the wounds of last year's civil war in Ivory Coast. Softly spoken Zahoui—who provides a contrast to Renard, a flamboyant Frenchman—talked of his team's “true ambition” to win this final, insisting his array of top players had learnt from previous near-misses and surprise failures at Africa's premier competition. “When we came here we came with a lot of pressure.” he said. “But we had 23 players who wanted to go to the final. We wanted to take every opponent with as much respect as possible and with the failures of the past. We know we haven't won yet. We know there's a big expectation on the part of my team.” After a perfect run in qualifying before the five victories here, the Ivorians have undoubtedly proved they are the best team at the Cup of Nations this year. There's just one more hurdle to clear before they can celebrate a first success since 1992: a Zambian team that has impressed on the field, sure, but which has significantly won the hearts of many off it. Zambia hasn't played at Stade de l'Amitie and will see Libreville's new stadium for the first time on the eve of the final, while Ivory Coast beat Mali in the semifinals here. But somehow its doesn't seem significant. Zambia's attempt to finally win Libreville in what would be a storybook ending after losing in the final in 1974 and then 1994—only a year after the plane crash—likely depends more on its own players' mood and the spirit within its group. “Nobody expected it but we believe in ourselves that we are going to do it and I think that this is our moment,” captain Christopher Katongo said. Ivory Coast's grit and professionalism will be challenged by Zambia's desire as an unpredictable African showpiece tournament could end with one more major, heartwarming surprise. The teams also met in both their most memorable campaigns, with Ivory Coast beating Zambia in the quarters on the way to its '92 title. The Zambians avenged that with victory en route to the final in '94, the last time they met at the African Cup. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter: @AO_Sports)
