Former Zambia national team defender Elijah Litana explained how he ended up joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal following failed moves to English and French top-flight clubs.
The only other two Zambian players to have been selected twice for the Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament are the towering defender and Kalusha Bwalya.
Litana played in four Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) tournaments and won silver and bronze medals in the continental showpiece.
He also scored in the 4-0 thrashing of Mali in the 1994 semifinals, and in the 1996 quarterfinal 3-1 win over Egypt 3-1.
Because of his strong performances, Litana was included in the team of the tournament during the 1994 and 1996 AfCON editions. He was the sole goal scorer for Zambia in the 1994 AfCON final loss to Nigeria’s Super Eagles, which ended 2-1.
Following his impressive performances at the AfCON, Litana attracted interest from a host of clubs from the Middle East and Europe.
Among the clubs were Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal, Everton, and Olympique Marseille.
Litana recalls that at the close of the 1994 AfCON, he was approached by an agent who offered him a lucrative deal to Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.
How the Everton move fell through
With interest in making the move, his Zambian club Power Dynamos did not clear him as they wanted him to join Everton in England instead.
“I think when we played the 1994 Africa Cup, we had a scout who came there; he called me, and we chatted, and he told me, ‘We need you in Saudi Arabia’,” Litana revealed on Studio Ken podcast. “We so discussed, and after 2-3 months he came, and he said ‘the deal was on’. But then I was told you can’t go there (Saudi Arabia), and then the officials (at Power Dynamos) said you can’t go there; you need to go to Europe; Everton wanted me, and then they blocked the Saudi deal; we had a misunderstanding, and that’s how that passed.”
After the collapsed deal, Litana remained at Power Dynamos before another offer from French side Marseille came through.
The Zambian international then went on to train with Marseille, who unfortunately were banned from signing foreign players.
He would then be given a pre-contract with hopes of signing a permanent deal after three months, which did not materialize.
“Marseille came; I went there and trained with them, and then the team was banned from buying foreign players. They gave me a pre-contract for three months; if they allow them to buy foreign players, then I would go back to France,” Litana said.
Litana ended up agreeing to a five-year deal with Al Hilal, where he won the Saudi league during the 1995/96 season.
“That time we were playing careers; there were not many Zambians going to Europe whatsoever, and I was advised that the only country that is going to be easy to adapt for you is Saudi Arabia,” he stated.
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