2010 World/Africa Qualifiers

Group Eight

Weekend results

Mauritania     1-4    Morocco

Ethiopia        1-2    Rwanda

June 15

Rwanda    v     Morocco

Ethiopia    v     Mauritania

Amavubi Stars head coach Blanko Tucak has embarked on plans to win Rwanda’s next 2010 World/ Africa Cup qualifier against Morocco scheduled for Sunday at Nyamirambo stadium.

The Croatian-born coach admitted yesterday upon the team’s arrival from Ethiopia that Sunday’s game is the most crucial and that concentration must be higher then it was in the last two games.

"The game against Ethiopia ended on a success and now our attention shifts to the next one against Morocco.

"I was confident that we would win in Ethiopia even though I had some doubts before the game, lucky enough the players stood up to the challenge,” Tucak acknowledged.

He added, "I attribute the victory against Ethiopia to the players’ determination and confidence and I hope that with this kind of discipline, we a have chance to get a good result against Morocco tie.”

Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars continued their impressive start to the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Ethiopia on Sunday.

Amavubi Stars, who arrived yesterday from Ethiopia went into evening training session and are expected to hold their usual training sessions even today at their Remera training ground.

Israel based Saidi Abedi Makasi and Norway based midfielder Olivier Karekezi were on target for the Wasps to cancel out Tafese Tesfaye opener for the Walya Antelopes.

Rwanda had a poor first half show on a muddy pitch but their second half show proved successfully as they grew in confidence as the game progressed.

After a dull first half, Tucak’s team came back for the second period a much improved side and Patrick Mafisango’s free kick fall on Abedi’s head to equalize for Amavubi Stars.

Rivals, Morocco defeated Mauritania 4-1 on Saturday in the other group eight match played on Saturday in Nouakchott.

Morocco and Rwanda are leading group eight with six points each but are separated by goal differences.

Morocco has scored seven goals and conceded one while Rwanda has scored five goals and conceded one goal in the two qualifiers played so far. Both Ethiopia and Mauritania lay bottom of group eight without a point after losing their two games.

Rwanda continues their 2010 qualifiers by hosting Morocco in Kigali while Mauritania play host to Ethiopia. The top two qualifying teams in each group and the eight best second-place teams will make the grade for the main qualifying campaign for the 2010 WC/CAN in South Africa and Angola respectively.

Group 8

Team                   P      W    D     L    Pts

Morocco            2      2    0    0    6

Rwanda               2       2     0    0     6

Ethiopia             2      0    0    2    0

Mauritania          2      0    0    2    0

Ends