2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier

Morocco   2-0   Rwanda
Ethiopia    6-1   Mauritania

Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars can only afford to win the next two fixtures and reach the third and final round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifiers.

If the Wasps can get maximum points in their remaining fixtures against Ethiopia and Mauritania, they will be in the next round regardless of what happens to Morocco.

Rwanda hosts Ethiopia on September 7 before travelling to Mauritania on October 12 for the last game.

Amavubi Stars lost to Morocco 2-0 in the return leg played over the weekend in Casablanca.

Youssef Safri and El Zhar Nabir scored the goals for the home side as they ended Rwanda’s unbeaten run.

A win for Morocco ensured them top spot in group eight with nine points, level with Rwanda but the Atlas Lions have a better goals difference of ten against Amavubi’s eight.

Lack of fluidity in the midfield was Amavubi major undoing in Saturday’s 2-0 loss and Branko Tucak needs to improve his tactics in the remaining two fixtures if Rwanda is going to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

The coach, who is known for making unpopular decisions before crucial matches, is thought to have played a big role in the team’s poor midfield showing in Casablanca.

In the first leg, the Croat wanted to field Arafat Serugendo in favor of Hamad Ndikumana but it was skipper Olivier Karekezi who championed for the opposite.

If Tucak harmonizes and creates a better atmosphere with his players and technical staff, Rwanda is likely to be better off than it is at the moment.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has detailed a complicated formula to determine which teams will progress to the second qualifying group stage for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

The 12 group winners and eight best runners-up will advance to Round Three. The 20 teams will then be grouped into 5 round-robin, home-and-away groups of 4 teams.

After losing group eight top spot to Morocco, Rwanda has only option which is to win the next two fixtures and they’ll be in the hat for the next draws. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s rivals Ethiopia went on the rampage by defeating Mauritania 6-1 in Addis Ababa.

Striker, Teffera Fikru who features for South African champions, Super Sport United and Andualem Negussie both scored a brace.

Mohamed Mesud and Girma Adane increased the tally to six goals while Taghiyoullah Denna scored the consolation for the visitors.

Group 8

Team          MP  W   D   L  GF  GA  Pts

Morocco        4   3   0   1  10    4     9
Rwanda          4    3   0   1    8     4      9
Ethiopia         4    2  0   2   8    6     6
Mauritania4          0  0   4   2    14   0

Ends