2014 World Cup qualifier
Playing today
Eritrea   vs Rwanda

RWANDA’S Amavubi Stars start their 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil qualifying campaign, today, with an away fixture against Eritrea in Asmara in the first leg of the preliminary round.

Rwanda, fresh from a failed bid to reach the 2012 Africa Nations Cup finals due in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon respectively, are hoping to bounce back with a win in Eritrea before the return leg in Kigali four days later.

Head coach Sredejovic Milutin Micho said prior to the team’s departure for Asmara that today’s qualifier is an important match and that his aim is to win.

"We are fully aware of the kind of opposition we are going to face, but we are ready and I am satisfied with their application in training

"We’re well prepared for whatever Eritrea throws at us on and off the field in Asmara. Eritrea is a very good side which has been together in the past year playing different competitions as a unit,” stated Micho, who will be making his bow as Amavubi coach.

The team is expected to return to Kigali immediately after the match and will directly head to the camp to prepare for the return leg due to played on Tuesday.

Amavubi need to get a good result in Asmara to stay in better position to qualify for group H of the second round of the qualifiers, which will also have Benin, Mali and Algeria.

The ten group winners advance to the third and final round. The five winners will then go to Brazil.

A total of 24 teams will be involved in this weekend’s matches as the battle for places at the next Fifa World Cup moves into gear. The matches promise to be full of excitement despite the absence of the big giants, who are not participating in the initial phase of the qualifying campaign.

Amavubi squad:

Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Eric Gasana, Ismail Nshutiyamagara, Kalisa Mao, Albert Ngabo, Olivier Karekezi, Haruna Niyonzima, Hussein Sibomana, Meddie Kagere, Frederic Ndaka, Jean Baptista Mugiraneza, Jean Claude Iranzi, Elias Uzamukunda, Jerome Sina, Emery Bayisenge, Andrew Buteera and Kamana Bokota Labama.

Ends