 Following Zambia's surprise defeat to Madagascar in a World Cup qualification tie in Antananarivo in December 1992, coach Samuel Ndhlovu was sacked and Moses Simwala was named the new Zambian coach with Chitalu and Alex Chola as his assistants.However, Simwala fell ill before he could take charge of the team and Chitalu was appointed head coach.Zambia were tipped to make it all the way to the 1994 World Cup, but on their way to Senegal the team met its fate in the horrific air disaster off the coast of Gabon.