Zambia AFCON Disgrace Is My Fault - Coach Herve Renard
Head coach Herve Renard has said he is to blame for Zambia�s disgraceful failure to reach the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
The defending champions were eliminated after a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso in their final Group C game on Tuesday.
�I loved my team tonight. If there is someone who is responsible then it�s me, not my players,� said Renard.
While Zambia exited the competition, Burkina Faso celebrated a first second round qualification on foreign soil.
The Chipolopolo claimed a shock tournament victory in last year�s event as they beat favourites Ivory Coast in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
But draws against Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Stallions saw the Super Eagles progress at their expense thanks to a brace of penalties from Victor Moses in their final fixture.
The result ensured Zambia became the first holders to exit the competition at the group stage in 21 years.
�It�s better to have won something in your life than always qualify for the quarter-finals, but never win anything,� said Frenchman Renard.
�This is not the end of the world. Before we used to go home a lot of times after the first round, and today you have to accept that this is football.
�Everybody is sad but my players did their maximum, and I�m very proud of them. It�s not the end of the world.�
The stalemate with Zambia owed much to a dogged performance from Burkina Faso as they chose to flood the midfield and slow play down.