2012 Afcon qualifiers
Saturday
Rwanda vs Burundi
(Regional Stadium) -3:30pm
Benin     vs Ivory Coast

BURUNDI’s national football team, the Swallows, jets in tomorrow ahead of Saturday’s crucial 2012 Orange Africa Nations Cup Group H qualifier against Amavubi.

While Amavubi head coach Sellas Tetteh opted for two professionals in Patrick Mafisango (Azam FC-Tanzania) and Elias Uzamukunda (AS Cannes-France), the Swallows have ten pros in their ranks.

Burundi heads into the tie with a point from their opening two qualifiers. After losing to Ivory Coast (0-1) in their opening qualifier, the Swallows claimed a valuable point after holding Benin to a 1-all draw in Porto-Novo and the team’s head Coach Amarse Niyonkuru reckons that the result has given the team great belief.

"There is great belief and determination in this side,” he was quoted as saying on one of Burundi’s radio stations.

The tie, to be held at Kigali Regional Stadium, will be handled by the Malawian quartet of Kalyoto Ngosi (center-referee), Moffat Champiti, Michael Makoto and Duncan Lengani.

The match commissioner is Molephi Oliphanti from South Africa.

The wasps are bottom of Group H following back to back defeats against Ivory Coast (0-3) and Benin (0-3).
The Elephants top the group with six points. Benin is second with four points while Burundi is third with one point.

Meanwhile, the Ivory Coast-Benin match has been moved to a neutral venue because of the upheaval in the West African state.

Ivory Coast was originally scheduled to host their Group H game in Abidjan this Sunday but the post-election violence in the country has forced the game to be moved to Accra on Saturday.

"Because of the security situation in Ivory Coast, we have agreed to host the game in Accra,” Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi told BBC Sport recently.

Amavubi’s provisional 22-man squad: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye (APR), Jean Claude Ndoli (APR), Patrick Rutayisire (AS Kigali), Clement Mutunzi (Police), Abouba Sibomana (Rayon Sport), Donatien Tuyizere (APR), Eric Gasana (APR), Adolphe Hakundukize (Musanze), Jean Claude Iranzi (APR), Peter Kagabo (Rayon Sport), Kipson Atuheire (APR), Jacques Tuyisenge (Kiyovu), Haruna Niyonzima (APR), Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (APR), Hussein Sibomana (Kiyovu), Abbas Rassou (APR), Emmanuel Sebanani (APR), Eric Serugaba (Kiyovu), Roger Tchouassi (Police), Patrick Mafisango (Azam), Elias Uzamukunda (AS Cannes) and Said Abedi Makasi (club less)

Ends