2012 Nations Cup Qualifiers

September 4

Ivory Coast vs Rwanda

Benin vs Burundi

Amavubi Stars’ head coach Sellas Tetteh, says he is optimistic his team will come good against Ivory Coast, next month despite the little time of preparation.

Rwanda faces the Elephants in the opener of Group H of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away in Yamoussoukro.

Tetteh told Times Sport yesterday, "The response from players was good in the first session of preparation; we just took them through physical training and released them to join their clubs for Primus Cup.”

"But I’m expecting a lot from the team although we seem have not enough training period with them.

"Ivory Coast is a bit ahead of us after winning their friendly tie against Italy but this won’t affect our concentration.
The U-20 Fifa World Cup winning coach faces a massive test in achieving his main objective of qualifying Rwanda for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals which will be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Tetteh’s team, which has not done exactly well in the last three qualifying campaigns, will be required to finish as Group 8 leaders or as one of the best three qualifiers if they are to qualify for the continent’s biggest football competition.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast veteran midfielder cum defender, Didier Zokora has hinted about retirement from international football after the 2012 Nations’ Cup.

Zokora, the most capped Elephants player with 89 caps believes the competition represents the last chance for the golden generation to win a trophy.

Ends