Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba has made CAF XI for 2016.
The TP Mazembe midfielder is one of five African-based players in the 2016 Africa XI.
Kalaba is among European household names like Sadio Mane of Liverpool, Manchester United’s Eric Bailly , 2016 African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez Of English champions Leicester City and 2015 African winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
The Zambia captain inspired Mazembe to their debut CAF Confederation Cup victory in 2016 after finishing the tournament as top scorer on eight goals.
He also scored a brace in Mazembe 4-1 final leg, home win over MO Bejaia of Algeria to lift the trophy 5-2 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Kalaba is also up for the 2016 Best African-based player award on January 5 that he will be vying for with Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango and Zimbabwe midfielder Khama Billiat.
However, Zambia’s interest in the 2016 CAF Awards does not end there.
Zesco United have been nominated for the team of the year and battle for the award against 2016 CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Mazembe.
Africa Finest XI
Goalkeeper: Denis ONYANGO (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Serge AURIER (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint-Germain), Aymen ABDENNOUR (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric BAILLY (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Joyce LOMALISA (DR Congo & AS Vita)
Midfielders: Khama BILLIAT (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Rainford KALABA (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Keegan DOLLY (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns),
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio MANE (Senegal & Liverpool), Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City)
Substitutes
Aymen MATHLOUTHI (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Kalidou KOULIBALY (Senegal & Napoli), Salif COULIBALY (Mali & TP Mazembe), Islam SLIMANI (Algeria & Leicester City), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City), Alex IWOBI (Nigeria and Arsenal)
This is no achievement to WRITE ABOUT PLEASE, THE BOY FAILED TO SCORE A DECISIVE PENALTY AGAINST IVORY COAST IN 2012 BY KICKING OVER THE BAR AND YOU SAY HE IS AMONG TO 11 IN AFRICA PLEASE BE SERIOUS FOR ONCE ONLY. VIVA DENIS ONYANGO ABASH OLD , ILLITERATE, UPND SYMPATHISER KENNEDY MWEENE
But bakamba muli bitter zoona
What wrong has Mweene done to you? Please leave the political nonsense out of this and for once be proud of our country and heroes.
Ndiwe chipuba. Mweene and Kalaba have contributed more to this country more than your entire village.
Kalaba is best player, and very consistent. Guys nalitamba sana bola, kusema nikutaka. and its good that Kalaba went to TP mazembe.
No Ghanian on list.
Bakamba muli tole zoona. So, you are UPND?
CONGRATULATIONS TO KALABA, 8 GOALS IN NO MEAN ACHEIVEMENT. BY THE WAY FOLKS, THERE ARE 55 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA – CAN YOU COUNT HOW MANY HAVE ZERO REPRESENTATION IN THE LIST ABOVE? MULETASHA MWEBANTU BAKWA LESA
you are just a bitter person show us your achivement
IDIIOT YOU ARE NOT A ZAMBIAN LEAVE OUR WONDER BOY ALONE ZAMBIANS WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY KAPOLI IWE.
So Kalaba is the only player in the world who at one or another missed a penalty hence doesn’t deserve this? What kind of thinking is this? Why don’t people look at a broader picture? Just one mistake overshadows all the good things Kalaba has done!
imagine ayi? Mane just caused a penalty that cost his team 3 points but that doesnt take the greatness away from him
Onyango has become famous because they are matching him to Mweene and Sandine, who are both national team goalies. In general, I don’t like Onyango, especially at world club finals, he cost Sundown all games, with his shorts down to knees …
Imagine that thinking, Kalaba wa bola. Everything bamafya want to bring in what my friend has called political nonsense.
Roberto Baggio
ZED FOR KALABA FORGERT ABOUT THAT FOREIGNER WHO IS TALKING ABOUT THE PENALTY
Well done Rainford. Playing in Africa but still recognised
I know y u have said so u suspect him to be going out with yr wife is it not so. Didier groba of ivory coast missed a penult in the same game which was going to see Zambia sink now that it was not God given he missed
Kalaba is a good player and can feature well in england. Just that some of uuu are jealous.. Amapolitics yalimipwa amano. Go back to the farm and stop complaing
Now that 1diot calling himself Anyokooo, what was it saying. Am sure now the f00l is feeling like its naked coz no one can support its f00lishness whether UPND, PF, FDD or whichever party coz this is not about politics. Mweene is goalkeeper for Zambia & not for a political party & he has done a lot for Zambia. Its only that this is social media pantu bambi ngatulamishiba, ngamuponoka lyonse baf1kala.
Lets go Kalaba! We are behind you!