On Tuesday, April 28. 2020, Zambia will mark the 27th anniversary of the Gabon Disaster that saw an entire team and technical staff perish off the coast of Gabon en-route to fulfilling a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Zambia was due to play Senegal in Dakar in the USA 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Eighteen players, technical staff, a FAZ chairman, crew members and a journalist died off the coast of Gabon in Libreville on their way to fulfilling a USA 1994 World fixture against Senegal in Dakar.

Widely acknowledged as the finest talents Zambia has ever produced and were poised for a debut World Cup appearance, the team’s departure remains one of the most painful memories in the history of the Zambian game.

Government has directed that an official ceremony will only be held every five years from 2018.
How do you remember the fallen heroes?

Full List of Fallen Heroes
(GOALKEEPERS)
Efford Chabala (Mufulira Wanderers), Richard Mwanza (Kabwe Warriors)

(DEFENDERS)
John Soko, Eston Mulenga (both Nkana), Whiteson Changwe (Kabwe Warriors), Robert Watiyakeni (Dynamos FC-RSA), Winter Mumba (Power Dynamos), Samuel Chomba (Dynamos-RSA)

(MIDFIELDERS)
Derby Makinka (El Tiffaq-Saudi Arabia), Moses Chikwalakwala, Numba Mwila (both Nkana), Wisdom Chansa (Dynamos FC-SA), Godfrey Kangwa (Olympique Casablanca-Morocco)

(STRIKERS)
Kelvin ‘Malaza’ Mutale (El-Tiffaq-Saudi Arabia), Timothy Mwitwa (Nkana), Moses Masuwa (Kabwe Warriors), Kenan Simambe (Nkana), Patrick ‘Bomber’ Banda (Profund Warriors)

Coaching Staff

Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu (coach)

Alex Chola (assistant coach)

Wilson Mtonga (doctor)

Wilson Sakala

Others

Michael Mwape (FAZ Chairman)

Nelson Zimba (public servant)

Joseph Bwalya Salim (journalist)