Kelvin Kampamba’s 2024 was a year of stark contrasts. Moments of triumph were overshadowed by the personal tragedy of losing his mother. He is now rearing to go for a smoother year in 2025.
Kampamba kicked off the year on a positive note. In January, he signed his first contract beyond Zambian borders, joining Al Nasr-Benghazi. This personal milestone came over a decade after he first emerged on the Zambian football scene.
At the national team, Kampamba had started receiving regular call-ups. It was not long before he captained the side and made decisive goal contributions in a number of matches during the 2025 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) qualifier.
Heroic response to personal tragedy
On September 2, Kampamba faced a personal tragedy with the loss of his mother. This occurred as he was preparing to join the Chipolopolo camp ahead of the Group G AfCON qualifier opener against Ivory Coast. As a result, he missed the game, and Zambia went on to lose 2-0.
A week later, he rejoined the squad for the home match against Sierra Leone. Coming on as a substitute for Obino Chisala in the 66th minute, he found the back of the net just four minutes later. It was truly an emotional moment.
Zambia went on to win the match 3 – 2 and set the pace for another AfCON qualification under Avram Grant.
“I don’t know if I can say it was good or bad moment scoring a goal for the senior national team after coming from burying my mother just a few days ago,” he told BolaNews exclusively. “That is why when you ask me about 2024, all I can say is that it was an unforgettable year and so many memories upon my life and career.”
Life in Libya
Most Zambian footballers have historically faced challenges in North Africa. It was not surprising that Kampamba’s move to Libya was met with opposition from many fans, journalists, bloggers, and analysts.
Many people feared that within a month or two, Kampamba would be on his way back home. However, he has defied the odds and is now in his second season with Alfahama. Remarkably, he even helped them secure the league title in his debut season.
When I asked how the Libyan topflight compares to our Super League, Kampamba left me with some homework: “Watch some games here [in Libya] and compare with the Zambian [Super] League you will judge [for] yourself boss,” he challenged.
He said there was no question about which league is more developed between the Super League and the Libyan topflight.
“Also see the coaches [that] teams here are bringing; you will see how developed the league is compared to ours,” he said.
New year, same ambition
We might be in the new year, but Kampamba’s resolve remains the same.
“For my club, I always want to win championships because that is what will stay in their history books and that way, the fans will remember my name forever,” he said.
The new season just started in Libya. After four matches, his side is fourth in Group One with six points, as many behind leaders Al Akhdar.
The Libyan topflight is a 36-team league divided into four groups of nine clubs. The top three teams in each group at the end of the season qualify for a championship play-off to determine the champion.
Kampamba on World Cup
For Chipolopolo, Kampamba said the focus is helping revive its World Cup campaign as well as have a good outing at the 2025 AfCON in Morocco.
In the race to the World Cup, Zambia sits second from bottom with three points from a possible 12. Chipolopolo is without a win in three matches.
“Coming to mother Zambia, firstly we will need to get back on track in the World Cup qualifiers where we have been bad. I will make sure I contribute positively to win our remaining games and have a chance to help the country achieve what is looking like an impossible achievement,” he said.
Truly, Zambia is in an impossible situation; the team needs a miracle of biblical propositions, something close to Moses parting the Red Sea.
Morocco leads Group E with nine points, three better than second-placed Niger and Tanzania. Zambia is fourth with three points, while Congo Brazzaville is bottom with no points.
To qualify for the World Cup, Zambia needs to finish top of their group. Should they fail to do so, they will hope to be among the four best-ranked second-placed teams who will make it into a play-off.
The top finisher in each of the nine groups will qualify for the World Cup, but there is hope for any of the four best runners-up who will face off in two one-off semi-finals, followed by a final.
“[Qualifying] is looking impossible to achieve right now but football can change in seconds; that’s why I like it a lot; we will surely push until the end,” Kampamba said.
Dream AFCON appearance
There is also a ‘small’ issue of AfCON to look forward to this year.
Since 2012, Zambia has never made it past the group stage of Africa’s premier international competition.
Last year, Kampamba was part of the 24-man squad for the 2023 AfCON, which was played in 2024 in Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, he did not see any action, as he remained an unused substitute for Zambia’s three games.
Since then, his status in the team has grown and he is expected to be among the players that will make it for the trip to Morocco.
Should Avram grant him a call-up, his focus is to help the team break a 13 – year – old curse.
“Next December we will participate in AfCON which will be hosted by Morocco, as you know, it will be good if we will go that side to compete not just participate, we want to push for the title and I know for sure we can do it I believe in my guys,” he concluded.
