Uganda Cranes first choice goalkeeper Denis Onyango has said Zambia’s failure to qualify for the quarter finals at the on-going 2013 Africa Cup of Nations is not surprise because they were not good enough.

The defending champions failed to beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday in a Group C match, which meant an early exit.

Burkina Faso and the Super Eagles of Nigeria who stopped Ethiopia 2-0 in their last group game sailed through form the group.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Onyango who was in goal in the Cranes 9-8 penalty loss to Zambia last October in the decider for the 2013 Afcon qualifier, said he did not expect Zambia to go far this time round because they lacked the sparkle that helped them win the trophy last year.

“I think they were not good enough to qualify and were only lucky to even qualify,” reasoned Onyango who is also struggling to break through the ranks at Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African PSL.

During the final phase of the qualifier for the 2013 Afcon, the Chipolopolo beat Uganda Cranes 1-0 in the first leg before Cranes also won by the same margin at Namboole Stadium, only for the match to be decided in penalty shootouts.

He said Ethiopia who qualified from the Council for East and Central African Associations (Cecafa) region had tried although they were appearing in the event after over 30 years.

A ten-man Ethiopian team held Zambia to a 1-all draw before losing 4-0 to Burkina Faso and 2-0 to Nigeria on Tuesday.