Ex-AMAVUBI Stars’ skipper Olivier Karekezi has been ruled out of next month’s 2010 World Cup qualifier away to Algeria after undergoing a thigh surgery Times Sport understands.

Karekezi, 27 underwent the surgery in Oslo, Norway and has since been given four weeks of recovery.

The Ham Kam striker will be a major absentee for Branko Tucak’s team which faces an intimidating task against Algeria’s Fennecs on October 11.

Karekezi with three goals to his name from the last qualifying round has been vital in this campaign despite failure to find the back of the net in the last four qualifiers in which the team has not scored.

However, Tucak will welcome back the services of three key players to his squad in Patrick Mafisango, Mbuyu Twite and Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza.

Mafisango and Mbuyu missed the last game against Egypt due to suspensions, while Mugiraneza sat out of the game after failing to recover from a toe injury.

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