A good home record must be up held at the start of the 2010 Nations/World Cup campaign next year when the Amavubi stars attempt to qualify for a first major tournament in eight years.

A very poor away record must be dealt away with, this time around if the team is to have any realistic chance of advancing to the finals of the continent’s biggest football showpiece.

Josip Kuze‘s side embarks on its 2010 campaign in round two, which has 48 countries.

The 48 countries have been grouped into four teams of 12 groups playing on a home and away basis.

After the dismal showing in the Ghana 2008 qualifiers under the now departed Michael Nees, the country would be hoping that the ghosts of 2004 awaken to the guide the team through this campaign.

The chances of Rwanda making it to South Africa look very slim but a place in 2010 Angola Nations Cup could be a reality.

To turn this dream into a reality, a mixture of luck, better preparation and motivation must be at hand and they have proved to reap results in the past.

The preliminary draws for the qualification campaign were held on Sunday in South African port city of Durban.

To successfully reach Angola 2010 and South Africa 2010, Rwanda would have to play a minimum of 12 games if they advance to the next stage.

Six matches apiece would be played in round two and three respectively.

Rwanda’s rating of 119 on the Fifa ranking ensured that it avoided the burden of playing a lowly side on home and away basis in round one.

Rwanda was drawn against North African giants Morocco as well as Ethiopia and Mauritania in Group Eight of the qualifiers, which kick off next year.

The main test will come when Kuze takes his troops to Morocco but apart from the North African side, Ethiopia are familiar opponents, having played several clashes in the Cecafa challenge cup matches. Mauritania is considered outsiders and shouldn’t be real a worry for Rwanda.  
           
Ferwafa Chief Executive Office Jules Kalisa is optimistic that Rwanda would advance to the next stage.

"With good preparations I believe we will surprise and go through, we should only be worried of Morocco.

"I believe we can get a draw in Rabat and a win at Amahoro,” Kalisa noted.

Should Rwanda finish among the best eight runners-up, it will make it for the round three.

NOTES
Round two:

-Forty-eight teams placed in 12 groups of four to play in a home and away format.

-Group winners and 8 best runners-up would advance to third round.

Round three:
-The 20 teams from round two would be grouped in five groups of four teams on home and away format
- Five group winners qualify for WC
-South Africa to participate in WC as hosts. (Africa will have six teams in 2010WC).

NB South Africa will participate in WC qualifiers as the competition doubles as Africa Cup qualifiers.

- Top three teams from each group (15) plus hosts Angola to play in CAN 2010.
 
Daniel .R. Kasule is the New Times’ Sports Editor.