As Junior Wasps qualify for World Cup

Yesterday’s results (Kigali Regional Stadium)

Burkina Faso 3-2 Senegal
Egypt       0-1 Rwanda

HISTORY did not favour them; they played the last 23 minutes with ten men but still went down into the country’s history books as the first national football side to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.

Widely tagged as Group A under dogs in the build-up to the Caf U-17 championship, the junior wasps rose to the occasion yesterday by beating one of the tournament favourites Egypt 1-0 at a packed Kigali Regional Stadium.

Center-back Faustin Usengimana scored the all-important goal (8th minute) to seal Rwanda’s slot in the 2011 U-17 Fifa World Cup which will be held in Mexico later this year.

The result also means that Rwanda who have now amassed six points from their opening two games are through to the semi-finals of the continental championship.

Rwanda could have extended the lead in the first half but poor finishing from Charles Tibingana, Andrew Buteera and Celestin Ndayishimiye kept the score line at 1-0.

With 23 minutes to play, influential midfielder Eric Nsabimana was sent off after receiving a second yellow card from Nigerian referee Solomon Wokoma for a foul on Aly Nader but the team managed to cling on for a very historic win.

"It’s a great achievement and I want to thank the team, my family and the fans,” Junior Wasps coach Richard Tardy jubilantly said.

Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso bounced back from Saturday’s 2-1 loss against the hosts by beating Senegal 3-2.

Sana Zaniou scored a brace while Ben Issa added a third for Burkina Faso who will now battle Egypt Group A’s remaining semi-final slot.

The two sides are level on points (three).

Ends