Tucak Branko blames referee for Cairo defeat

AMAVUBI head coach Tucak Branko was quick to blame Nigerian referee Emmanuel Imiere for playing a part in Rwanda’s 0-3 defeat against Egypt in Cairo. The Croat told the Egyptian media after the game on Sunday, “There was no justice today (Sunday). Egypt is a ‘great’ team, but we did enough to at least earn a point,” he added. “Our strikers were not lucky in converting the chances they had.”Amavubi seemed headed for a good result after a spirited first-half display where the Egyptian side showed no sense of urgency. But after a stirring half-time talk from the Egypt coach, Hassan Shehata, the African champions showed their mettle as 2008 BBC African Footballer of the year Aboutrika opened the scoring. Amavubi had their own chances but failed to take them. Rwanda’s best chance came on the 44th minute when Haruna Niyonzima chipped the ball over the cross bar. Egypt should have scored a lot more goals had it not been for the heroics of the experienced Jean Claude Ndoli. The APR custodian denied Mohamed Zidan three times. He also made a spectacular save from Abd-Rabou’s long-range effort before Abou-Treika finally ended the Pharaoh’s jinx with a neatly worked header. Hosni Abd-Rabou doubled Egypt’s lead from the spot while Abou-Treika completed his brace deep into injury time with an easy tap in. Although many Rwandans now know that a debut appearance at next year’s World Cup is out of the equation, the Croat has cautioned the Amavubi Stars to stay focused insisting that there is still a mathematical chance of making the trip to South Africa. “We can not give up on our cause. We still have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup,” he said. Sunday’s result means that Egypt are now three points adrift of Group C leaders Algeria while Rwanda are rooted at the foot of the group with one point. Rwanda’s next qualifier will be staged in Kigali on September 5 against Egypt. Ends

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Tucak Branko blames referee for Cairo defeat