Zambia - Atlas of our Changing Environment

Football and SportS

Sports play an important social and cultural role in Zambia. They cement communities and help to promote national symbols, emblems, colours, flora and fauna. Football is Zambia’s favourite pass- time and has been played in the country for more than a hundred years. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) was established in 1929 to raise soccer standards in the country. It is one of the oldest football federations on the African continent and is a member of the world football governing body, International Federation of Association Football and Confederation of African Football (FAZ, 2012). Zambia’s first taste of international football came on

July 4, 1964, when the national team played and won a match against Tanzania in the newly independent Republic of Malawi. Since Zambia’s independence in October 1964, football has grown to be the country’s most popular sport. Zambians are proud of their national team commonly known as “Chipolopolo Boys” (Copper Bullet or Big Guns) (FAZ, 2011). In 2012, Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament held every two years in January and February. It was a joyous and historical moment for Zambia (Confederation of African Football, 2012).

Chipolopolo lift their Africa Cup of Nations trophy and display their medals AFP, 2012

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ZAMBIA - ATLAS OF OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT