JOHANNESBURG, Jan 30: History was made at the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday as Zambia became the first defending champions to crash out of the group stage in 21 years after Burkina Faso drew 0-0 with the holders to reach the quarter-finals along with Nigeria who beat Ethiopia 2-0.

Burkina Faso topped the Group ‘C’ standings on goal difference above Nigeria, who set up a tantalising quarter-final clash against tournament favourites Ivory Coast as Chelsea star Victor Moses converted two late penalties for a dramatic conclusion to the final round of matches.

Zambia’s failure to beat Burkina Faso meant they suffered the ignominy of being the first holders to go out in the first round in defence of their title since Algeria in 1992 while Ethiopia ended a chaotic campaign by having their second goalkeeper sent off in three games.

Burkina Faso went into Tuesday’s final group matches with a two-point advantage and quickly set about building a defensive fortress to keep Zambia at bay at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and seal a place in last eight for the first time since 1998.

But the holders were still in contention as long as Nigeria were being held goalless by Ethiopia and had both matches ended goalless, Zambia and Nigeria would have finished tied on points, goal difference and goals scored and would have had to be separated by their disciplinary records.

That was before Moses was twice fouled inside the area, and then kept his cool to find the net with both penalties for the Super Eagles in the 80th and 90th minute after Ethiopian keeper Sasay Bancha was sent off in the simultaneous match in north-western mining town Rustenburg.

“This is a victory for Nigerians where ever they are in the world,” coach Stephen Keshi said. “This is a time for celebration. Now we face title favourites Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals and there will be no second chance for either side.”

While Sunday’s quarter-final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast will whet the appetite of fans, the tournament will move into the second round without its title holder after Zambia became the briefest of African champions.

Their reign was always likely to be the shortest yet after the Confederation of African Football switched the African Cup to odd years and played it back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 but coach Herve Renard remained philosophical.

“It is better to have won something in your life than to go always in the quarter-final and never win anything,” he said.

“Everybody is sad but my players did their maximum and I’m very proud of them. It’s not the end of the world.”

Results: Burkina Faso 0    Zambia 0 Nigeria 2    Ethiopia 0—Agencies