First round fixtures

May 16-18

Libya vs Rwanda

Liberia vs Lesotho

Kenya vs Comoros

Madagascar vs Uganda

Mauritania vs Eq. Guinea

Namibia vs Congo

Burundi vs Botswana

CAR vs Guinea Bissau

Swaziland vs Sierra Leone

Gambia vs Seychelles

Sao Tome vs Benin

Malawi vs Chad

Tanzania vs Zimbabwe

Mozambique vs South Sudan

RWANDA’S Amavubi Stars have been drawn against Libya in the 2015 African Nations Cup qualifiers. The draws were made yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.

The 2015 Africa Nations Cup finals tournament will be held from January 17 to February 8 in Morocco. The opening Ceremony will be in Marrakech.

Rwanda, who are searching for a new head coach when Eric Nshimiyimana’s one-year reign expires, will play the first leg match away to Tripoli before hosting the 2013 Chan title holders in Kigali in the return fixture. 

The first leg matches will be played between May 16 and 18 with return fixtures slated for May 30th, 31st or June 1st.

Neighbours Kenya will play Comoros, Tanzania will play Zimbabwe, and Uganda faces Madagascar, while Burundi will confront Botswana.

In case Amavubi qualify to the next round, they will be drawn for the 3rd preliminary round where 14 teams divided into two (7 Vs 7) play each other on a home and away knock out basis. This round will be played between July 18 –20 (first leg) and August 1– 3 (second leg).

Here Rwanda will play the winner between Namibia and Congo.

The seven winners of the ties will then join the 21 teams seeded in the seven groups with group matches.

The Winner between Namibia/Congo and Rwanda/Libya will join Group A which comprises of defending champions Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan.

‘Group of death’

Every draw creates a ‘group of death’ and Group G fits the bill with Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal.  Burundi, Botswana, Central African Republic or Guinea-Bissau will tussle for the fourth slot in Group.

Egypt has lifted the Cup of Nations a record seven times, hosts Tunisia triumphed in 2004 and Senegal were the strongest third seeds.

Another mini-league set to generate fierce competition is Group D, which includes Ivory Coast, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The remaining place in that section will be filled by Swaziland, Sierra Leone, Gambia or the Seychelles.

The group matches will be played 5-6 September and 10 September; 10-11 October and 15 October; 14-15 November and 19 November.

The first and second from the seven groups will automatically qualify for the finals in Morocco joined by the third best in all groups and hosts Morocco to make the 16 teams.

Morocco will complete the cast as hosts. Amavubi last appeared at the Nations Cup in 2004.

Full Draw:

Group A: Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Namibia/Congo, Libya/Rwanda

Group B: Mali, Algeria, Ethiopia, winner of SaoTome/Benin, Malawi/Chad

Group C: Burkina Faso, Angola, Gabon, winner of Liberia/Lesotho, Kenya/Comoros

Group D: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DR Congo, Swaziland/Sierra Leone, Gambia/Seychelles

Group E: Ghana, Togo, Guinea, Madagascar/Uganda, Mauritania/EqGuinea

Group F: Zambia, Cape Verde, Niger, Tanzania/Zimbabwe, Mozambique/South Sudan

Group G: Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, winner of Burundi/Botswana/CAR/Guinea Bissau