PETER NDLOVU wants Zambia's sensational success story at the 2012 Nations Cup finals to be an inspiration to Zimbabwe.

He says it is important for the Warriors to believe that they can also scale such lofty heights in international football.

Chipolopolo defied the odds to win their maiden Nations Cup crown after edging favourites Cote d'Ivoire on sudden death penalties following a goalless draw.

The Zambians became the second Southern African team to win the Nations Cup, following in the footsteps of South Africa who won the title in 1996.

However, unlike the South Africans, the Zambians' victory was impressive in that they won away from home and defeated one of the finest teams, ever assembled in Africa, to be crowned kings.

While Nigeria's boycott of the 1996 Nations Cup took some of the gloss off Bafana Bafana's triumph, Zambia beat Senegal, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to win the ultimate prize.

The Zambians flew back home yesterday to a heroes' welcome from a nation gripped by the magnitude of their achievements.

They are set to spend the whole week celebrating the ultimate triumph, in terms of African football, with roadshows set for Lusaka and towns in the Copperbelt.

Ndlovu, the first Warriors' skipper to lead his country to the Nations Cup finals, is widely regarded as the greatest Warrior of all-time.

Yesterday, he said Zambia's success should also inspire the Warriors that dreams can, in fact, come true on the football fields.

"Zambia has represented the whole Southern region. This is the second time such a good thing has happened to our football," said Ndlovu.

"They have shown that Southern Region football is alive. They have opened up doors even for European clubs not only to look at the North. "We will even see a lot of scouts coming this side to look for talent."

Ndlovu said Zimbabwe should also rebuild like Chipolopolo and said the future was in identifying and nurturing young talent. The former Coventry City and Sheffield United ace will be heavily involved in that after being appointed national Under-23 coach.

"Five years ago people were saying Zambia are a walk-over. And now they have achieved this and everyone will start respecting them," said Ndlovu.

"I led Zimbabwe to the first Nations Cup finals and unfortunately the best we could do was to get knocked out in the first round.

"We can rebuild. Zambia have been building and Ghana, we saw them developing. At the moment we don't have a team, we have lost a lot of players through Asiagate and it would be unfair to expect someone to get results.

"If we do well it will be fine but maybe after two years then we can start asking about results. We have youngsters like Knowledge Musona and Ovidy Karuru to build the team around.

"A team is built around a particular player. There was Moses Chunga and it was built around him and the time of Mudhara George Shaya it was the same. But we should just support each other. Right now we don't need negative comments for the national team but positive comments only.

"The team that has been picked is good and the youngsters should learn from the senior players. Esrom and Tinashe are good players and should bring advice.

"On the field of play they lift the youngsters and also acts as coaches during play. We still need Benjani as his experience would help the youngsters. At the end of day these players are footballers and will remain footballers for their whole life."

Ndlovu will be assisting the national team coaches Rahman Gumbo and his assistant, David Mandigora, and said the signs were good for Zimbabwe.

"We should keep believing that we can qualify but if we don't there is no need to panic as we are building the team," said Ndlovu.

"If we qualify in a short space of time that would be good. I will always aim high and look up to the challenges.

"If we can have a good start, it would be our foundation. It is the first game and first impressions always count. But people have to support us as being negative won't help us. "If a person in charge is supported he will draw a lot of confidence and is bound to do well."

Ndlovu said people should also draw lessons from the fact that Zambian coach, Herve Renard, didn't have a number of achievements under his belt before guiding the team to their first silverware.

Before winning the Africa Cup, the Frenchman had had coaching stints with Chinese side Shanghai Cosco from 2002 to 2003 and also managed English side Cambridge United in 2004. He became manager of AS Cherbourg of France in 2005, leaving them in 2007. Later he arrived in Ghana as assistant coach to Claude Le Roy.

He was appointed manager of the Zambia national team in May 2008 and led Chipolopolo to the quarter final stage of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.He quit two months later for the Angola national team job.

At the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, he led Zambia to the quarter-final stage of the tournament for the first time in 14 years.

Renard left Zambia early in April 2010, with only two months remaining on his contract. Two days later he agreed to become manager of Angola.

He resigned from his position as Angola manager in early October 2010 and early last year took up a club coaching with Algerian side USM Alger before rejoining Zambian national team last October following the sacking of Dario Bonetti after the team had qualfied for the Africa Cup finals.

"I must say their coach did exceptionally well," said Ndlovu. "His commitment to coaching inspires me and makes me want to do well, when I see a young coach making it."I have been reading in the newspapers about reservations over my appointment.

"But you know what, you never know what the future brings. Football is total. If you play well you will get dividends.

"Zambia just had belief at this tournament and beating a team like Cote d'Ivoire when on paper everyone was saying it's star-studded. It was phenomenal," said Ndlovu.

He added that Zambia proved that success could not only be built on a cash-rich foundation but on proper football structures."Sometimes it is not about money but about the structures," said Ndlovu.

"We have a lot to learn from Zambia if we want and we would become better, but if we don't want to learn then we don't.

"I also pay personal tribute to Kalusha Bwalya. Zambia have shown us they were a solid team and trusted each other."