2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier

Saturday

Morocco   v   Rwanda

Sunday

Ethiopia    v  Mauritania

Rwanda will play Morocco without Boubakary Saddou in tomorrow’s 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier at Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca.

The APR defender of Cameroon background failed to recover from a muscle strain he sustained two weeks ago in Rwanda’s 2-1 win over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. Other first team players left behind are Ismail Nshutinamagara and Mbuyu Twite (Eric Gasana).

Nshutinamagara missed tomorrow’s game through suspension after accumulated two yellow cards in the last two games against Ethiopia and Morocco while Twite was given marching orders by Cameroonian referee Divine Evehe during the 3-1 first leg win over Morocco last Saturday.

In their absence, U-17 national team captain Hegman Ngoma and APR defender Jean Bosco Uwacu were named as replacements.

Blanko Tucak mingled the Morocco-bound squad with not just attack-minded players, but also players he feels will run at the Morocco back-four that seemed awful last Saturday.

The Croat’s plans are on starting with players whose game is built on pace and aggression, that is Haruna Niyonzima on the right, Elias Ntaganda on the left, Patrick Mafisango, Hegman Ngoma and Olivier Karekezi through the middle and Labama Bokota floating behind the lone striker Said Abedi.

With a 4-5-1 formation, Tucak has played with Hamad Ndikumana, Aimable Rucogoza, Aloua Gaseruka and Arafat Serugendo at the back throughout this week’s training sessions.

Tucak’s side carries the psychological advantage, having beaten the North Africa giants 3-1 in Kigali in the first leg. Veteran defender Ndikumana, who neutralized the attacking threat of Hicham Aboucherouane, told Times Sport on Wednesday that the team has enough experience to handle the Casablanca crowd.

Amavubi team which departed for Morocco yesterday afternoon aboard an Ethiopian Airline is expected to connect to Amsterdam late in the evening from Nairobi before they arrive in Casablanca this afternoon.

A win for Rwanda in Casablanca will make them the first country to progress to the third and final qualifying round for 2010 World/Africa Cup finals.

Rwanda leads group eight with nine points, three points ahead of Atlas Lions of Morocco.

Ethiopia who will settle scores with Mauritania on Sunday has three points while the Mourabitounes remains at the foot of the group’s standings with no point. The delegation also included nine fans, who dug deep into their pockets to accompany the team.

Amavubi Squad: Goal keepers Jean-Claude Ndoli and Jean- Luc Ndayishimiye.

Defenders

Elias Ntaganda, Aloua Gaseruka, Hamad Ndikumana, Jean Bosco Uwacu, Arafat Serugendo and Aimable Rucogoza.

Midfielders

Jean Mugiraneza, Haruna Niyonzima, Ngoma Hegman, Mutesa Mafisango, Olivier Karekezi, Jean-Claude Iranzi.

Strikers

Abedi Mulenda, Bobo Bola, Labama Bokota Kamana and Abed Said Makasi.

Technical staff: Tucak Blanko (head coach), Raoul Shungu, Thomas Higiro and Eric Nshimiyimana (assistant coaches), Jean-Pierre Bazigangango (team manager), Moussa Hakizimana (Team doctor) and Antoine Burabyo (Physiotherapist).

Officials: Jean-Pierre Karabaranga, Védaste Kayiranga, Jules Kalisa and Jean Butoyi.

Group 8
 
Team           P    W   D    L  GF  GA  Pts
 
Rwanda         3      3    0     0   8     2     9

Morocco       3     2    0    1   8    4    6
Ethiopia        3     1    0    2   2    5    3
Mauritania     3     0    0    3   1    8    0

Ends