Cymru and Africa (pt.9) – Zambia, Guinea-Bissau and Congo
Part 9 in our blog series exploring links between Cymru and members of the Confederation of African Football. Previous blogs have visited:
- pt. 8 – Algeria, Burundi, Tanzania & Ethiopia
- pt. 7 – Angola, Benin and Uganda
- pt. 6 – Gabon and Sierra Leone
- pt. 5 – Morocco
- pt. 4 – Zimbabwe, Guinea and Eritrea
- pt. 3 – Gambia and Egypt
- pt. 2 – AFCON23 hosts Côte D’Ivoire
- pt. 1 – Tunisia
Zambia
Robert Earnshaw – after John Robinson, Earnshaw is the second male player born in Africa to win a Cymru cap. Born in the northern Zambian mining town of Mufulira, near the border with DR Congo, Earnshaw came to Wales, via Malawi, aged 9 settling with his mother Rita in Caerffili. Seven years later he was in Cardiff City’s match day squad; a few weeks later he scores on the opening day of the 1998/99 season with an overhead kick. His international debut is a goalscoring one, against Oliver Kahn of all people. After 17 caps he had 9 international goals and there was talk of him, even as late as 2006, having Ian Rush’s all-time goalscoring record in his sights. But it slowly fizzled out
The trend for lone or even inverted strikers in late 2000s international football had a sobering effect on Earnie’s Wales career. Those early caps and goals largely came in the classic big man/little man combination alongside John Hartson whose robustness as target man was the perfect foil for Earnshaw’s instinctive sniff of goal, agility and lightning reflexes.
Nevertheless, Mark Hughes chose to ignore Earnshaw’s threat from the start against Serbia and Montenegro in August 2003, the rearranged game where the wheels began to fall off the Euro 2004 qualification campaign. The ineffective Nathan Blake was chosen ahead of Earnshaw who did not enter the fray until the 77th minute. Within three minutes he had almost scored having rounded the keeper but scuffing his nonetheless goal-bound shot that Mladen Krstajic lunged to clear. The first significant ‘What if’ moment of Earnshaw’s international career?
Hughes made the same call in the 2003 play-off second leg against Russia. Though he gave Earnshaw a bit more time than in Belgrade – pressing him into action on the hour mark – Hughes placed him on the right wing where he failed to make an impact. What if, again, he had started and been able to provide a lethargic and heavy-legged Welsh performance with energy and fizz?
Towards the end of his career, Earnshaw travelled far and wide for games: a dismal second spell at Cardiff, Israel, the United States, Canada, Blackpool, back to Canada. He retired from international football, three years after his final cap, against Bosnia in Llanelli; his penultimate cap, many may have forgotten, was from the bench in the Gary Speed memorial game. His heartfelt statement showed how fond he was of the land that welcomed him:
“I fell in love with football ever since I was a kid and went to my first Wales game, It has been a dream come true to have the opportunity to walk out in front of the whole nation and represent Wales in so many important games. I am honoured and proud to play for my country for over a decade. I am also extremely thankful for the support I’ve received over the years from all my Welsh teammates, coaches, and staff and will be forever grateful because I know I’ve been in a position that millions dream of. I gave it my all in every minute and shared all the jubilations of scoring goals with the people of Wales. The pleasure has truly been all mine.”
But in the recent Eat Sleep Footy Media production The Dragon On My Shirt Earnshaw speaks about his pride in his African roots. It’s a regret that fans didn’t get a chance to give him a proper send off; an appearance of the bench at the CCS would have been fitting.
- The Lost Boyos wrote about Earnshaw in 2013: https://lostboyos.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/from-zambia-to-israel-the-robert-earnshaw-story/
- Our tribute to him on his Cymru retirement in 2015: https://www.podcastpeldroed.cymru/thanks-for-the-memories-robert-earnshaw/
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau – whose population is smaller than Wales – did not join CAF until the early 1990s. The Djurtus’ (a native wild dog) first attempt at World Cup qualification was for 1998, with their first AFCON entry the 1994 edition. Relative late developers, they have qualified for the last four AFCONs but have yet to win a game, including losing all three games this month.
Bruno Fernandes – had already won 13 G-B caps before rocking up at Cefn Druids in 2014–15 and playing his final season in football
Pavel Vieira – once-capped G-B international played for Bangor City, Airbus, Aberystwyth Town, Prestatyn Town and Cefn Druids– 2016–17, 2020
Kalilo Djalo-Embalo – a few games for Carmarthen Town in 2020
Edmilson Pedro Vaz – Portuguese citizen who declared his international allegiance for Guinea-Bissau ahead of joining Aberystwyth Town for the 2019–20 season.
Lassana Mendes – currently with Hereford but spent six seasons with Colwyn Bay and Bala Town. Yet to win international honours
Yalany Baio – another who turned out for Bangor City (in three spells), Llandudno and Druids. Baio was born in the city of Bissau in Guinea-Bissau to a father from Guinea and mother from Guinea-Bissau. He declared for Guinea-Bissau but accepted a call up by Guinea to face Chad making his debut as a second half replacement. FIFA declared Baio ineligible for Guinea as he was still registered with them as a Guinea-Bissau player and refused to sanction the game. Rather than declare for Guinea he decided to stick with Guinea-Bissau but has never received a call-up. Got that?
Congo
Brandon Diau – German-born defender has been capped twice by Congo at under 20 level. Wales is one of six countries where he played for Flint and most recently Colwyn bay
Offrande Zanzala – the Newport County striker left Congo with his family as refugees from civil war in 1999 settling first in Austria then England. Zanzala came through the ranks at Derby County and via seven clubs including loan spells arrived at Rodney Parade at the start of the 2022 season. Injuries disrupted his maiden Exiles season before a serious knee injury put him out for months. Out of contract this summer, Zanzala is nearing a first-team return and hoping to do enough to secure a new offer.
