Zambia and their love-hate relationship with the number 18

Few stories touch on fiber like that of Zambia. A national team that is both a fighter and a dreamer.

Zambia's story now has a documentary. 'Rakuten' has put the name 'Eighteam' because the number 18 marked this side.

In 1994, Zambia were looking for a place at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. They had matches against Morocco and Senegal, as 'Marca' recalls.

On 29th April, a military plane was due to leave Gabon. Unfortunately, it would never reach its destination. The best airplane was reserved for the government. The players were travelling in another one which, the source quoted above, was not in the best conditions. After three attempts for the plane to take off, the tragedy happened: it ended up in the sea. 18 players lost their lives.

On that flight was not Kalusha, the star of Zambia. That tragedy marked him forever. "There isn't a day when I don't think about it. I told myself that I would never celebrate a goal again," said Kalusha in statements collected by 'Marca'.

18 years later, destiny in part returned a smile to Zambia. The national team won the African Cup of Nations. And they would do so, again, with the number 18.

Ivory Coast were their opponents in the 2012 final. The match wasn't decided in extra time, so it went to penalties. After exactly 18 attempts, like it couldn't be any other way, Zambia were proclaimed African champions and thus closed the circle of 18 that marked their history.