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Soccer-Holders Zambia Dumped Out Of Nations Cup.

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Burkina Faso put on a tenacious display to oust defending champions Zambia from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in a Group C match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Tueday night as the match ended 0-0.

The game finished scoreless at Mbombela Stadium in a match that Zambia dominated, but their poor turnover in front of goal came back to haunt them after doing everything right except put the ball into the back of the net.

Zambia have now broken a 20-year record that was held by Algeria, who also bowed out at same stage at the 1992 tournament.

Burkina Faso, on the other hand, reached their first quarterfinals since 1998 when they hosted the tournament.

Chipolopolo finished the tournament unbeaten on three points.

However, Herve Renard’s much hyped nine match unbeaten run in the tournament stretching back to 2012 was not worth the paper it is recorded on.

Burkina Faso should thank man-of-the-match Bakari Kone who kept out some sure chances from Emmanuel Mayuka and Collins Mbesuma especially in the second half in which they were outplayed.

Alain Traore gave Zambia an earlier scare in the second minute when his rocketing free kick flew straight at Kennedy Mweene in what was Burkinabe’s best chance of the first half.

However, in the seventh minute Traore played no further part and went down and out with the knee injury that has dogged him since Christmas.

Alain Traore, who has scored three goals so far for Burkina Faso at the tournament, was taken off three minutes later and replaced by Aristide Bance.

Burkina Faso failed to spark without Traore in a first half as Zambia enjoyed at least 64 per cent of the possession.

Zambia had a great chance to get the three points in the midst of all that domination in the 16th minute through Mbesuma that was saved by Daouda Diakite.

Mbesuma shot straight at Diakite after a fine pass from Chisamba Lungu.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso finish top on five points, level with Nigeria who also go through after a 2-0 win over Ethiopia.

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