(CNN) -- Zambia coach Herve Renard has dedicated the country's first Africa Cup of Nations title to former player Kalusha Bwalya, who escaped a plane crash that killed the squad of 1993.
Bwalya, regarded as one of Zambia's greatest players, is also head of the country's soccer federation. He was in the Gabonese capital Libreville to see the Copper Bullets beat Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in Sunday's final.
It was in the same city 19 years ago that Zambia's coach and 18 players were killed in a plane crash on their way to Senegal for a World Cup qualifying match.
Bwalya survived as he traveled to Dakar to meet up with the squad from his base in Europe, where he played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo holds the Africa Cup of Nations trophy aloft after his team's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Ivory Coast in Libreville, Gabon.
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Renard was Zambia coach between 2008 and 2010 before leaving to coach Angola, but Bwalya offered him a second stint last year.
"He is the best Zambian player of the last century and he escaped the plane crash," Renard was quoted as saying on the Confederation of Africa's official website.
"He was criticized for giving me the second chance. I dedicate the victory to him because he gave me the opportunity to coach.
"We wanted to honor the dead players and that strengthened us. Our first game was against Senegal and the team was on its way to Senegal for a match when the plane crashed.
"The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is a sign of destiny."
In a dramatic final, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba missed a penalty before the game was decided by a tense shootout, with Stoppila Sunzu striking the decisive blow.
Zambia striker Collins Mbesuma added: "I also believe the departed Zambian team of 1993 was with us in this final match.
"When Drogba missed the penalty l just knew it that it was our night, the departed were making sure the Ivorians would not score."
The Zambian squad flew back to the country's capital Lusaka on Monday to be greeted by thousands of cheering fans.
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Back in 1993, 18 Zambia players and their coach were killed in a plane crash in Gabon's capital Libreville -- the setting for Sunday's final. Bwalya escaped the tragedy as he was traveling to Africa from the Netherlands. He returned to the scene of the crash with Renard (right) and the squad before the final.
Bwalya laid flowers at the scene of the crash -- a beach in Libreville -- to pay his respects to his late teammates and coach.
Zambia's players celebrate together after they beat the Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties at the end of a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final.
Two of Zambia's players pay tribute to those who lost their lives after the finest hour in Zambia's footballing history.
The Zambia team gather together in prayer moments after Stoppila Sunzu's penalty earned the Copper Bullets' first African title.
French coach Herve Renard is enjoying his second spell as Zambia coach, with the 43-year-old having also been with the team between 2008 and 2010.
Zambia fans at the Stade d'Angondje celebrated wildly after their team's historic success.
But Ivory Coast fans in the city of Abidjan were inconsolable. The 1992 champions have failed to deliver success despite having star players such as Didier Drogba and brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure.
Drogba could have put the Ivory Coast ahead midway through the second half, but fired his penalty high over the crossbar. The Chelsea striker also missed a spot-kick in the Elephants' 2006 shootout defeat to Egypt.
Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was the hero on Sunday, saving Kolo Toure's spot-kick before Gervinho also missed the target for the Ivorians.
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