Cardiff manager Dave Jones refused to blame goalkeeper Peter Enckelman for the error which gifted Portsmouth the FA Cup.
Enckelman spilled John Utaka's cross in the first half to allow Kanu to tap in the only goal which gave Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp the first major silverware of his career.
It was another high-profile gaffe from Enckelman, who famously gifted Birmingham a goal in 2002 while playing for Aston Villa when he let a throw-in slide under his foot.
But Jones said: "No blame is to be attached to anybody today. Unfortunately it (the mistake) happened in a cup final but the stats say we matched them in every department. I don't think any of my players could be disappointed.
"We took the game to Portsmouth and unfortunately we just fell at the last hurdle.
"In the first half we had some good chances, unfortunately the one mistake has cost us the game. We matched them in every department."
Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens did have the ball in the Portsmouth net just before half-time but was adjudged to have used his arm in the build-up.
And while Cardiff roused themselves for a stirring finale Portsmouth goalkeeper David James was barely troubled.
Jones, however, was generous in his praise of Redknapp.
He said: "Harry has come away with the cup and fully deserves it. But our players gave everything.
"Joe Ledley was magnificent. Lots of their players were throwing their bodies on the line at the death. They have a lot of quality but they only had one man up front and Harry showed us a lot of respect."
Jones insisted that Cardiff's next challenge was to get into the Premier League, especially if they are to keep their young stars such as 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey, who came on as a second-half substitute.
Jones said: "We think we have a very special talent in Aaron. We've brought him on and hopefully his future will be with this club, if not he won't be fazed. If we are to keep him we need to get into the Premier League.
"The next stage is for us to grow and if we don't then people running the club need shooting.
"But in our division next year there will be only four or five clubs who have not played in the Premier League so it just gets harder and harder. The next stage is to use this as a springboard and kick on. I think we are going places."
Jones revealed he had decided not to play Robbie Fowler because he could not trust his fitness after four months out injured and just two weeks training but added: "It was a hard decision to leave him out. We need somebody like him next year who can score 25 goals a season.
"But let us have a bit of sorrow and wallow in self-pity. I wanted to win and my players today gave it their best shot. We didn't let ourselves down or our families or the club. We had a right go."
He also made special mention of the Cardiff supporters who stayed to the end to see Portsmouth pick up the cup.
Jones said: "The two teams can feel proud of themselves and their supporters. We have brought back a little pride for the FA Cup.
"Today was all about showing everybody what we are about. But this football club will go places now. I was proud to lead them out. The fans were absolutely magnificent."
