LUSAKA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Zambian soccer coach Herve Renard has received the draw for next year's African Cup of Nations with mixed feelings, saying the group his team has been placed in was tough, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Saturday.

    Zambia has been drawn against Cameroon, Tunisia and Gabon at next year's competition, according the draws conducted in Angola on Friday.

    Renard said in an interview with the paper after the draw that the group was tough but was "relishing the challenge of facing the best teams in Africa".

    "It is not easy but we will enjoy to play three strong teams," the Frenchman was quoted as saying by the paper.

    While Zambia's road to their 14th Africa Cup appearance was difficult, Cameroon, Gabon and Tunisia easily made it from their groups.

    Cameroon finished top of the group with 13 points, four clear of Gabon to qualify for both the World Cup and Africa Cup while Tunisia led its group until the last day of qualifiers when it surrendered the World Cup place to Nigeria after going down 1-0 to Mozambique.

    On the other hand, Zambia scored a pitiful two goals and conceded five points in a group that also had Algeria, Egypt and Rwanda.