Rwanda draws Ivory Coast in Challenge Cup

2010 Cecafa Challenge Cup Group A-Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, SomaliaGroup B-Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Sudan, ZanzibarGroup C-Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi FixturesNov. 27 Burundi vs SomaliaTanzania vs Zambia Nov. 28 Sudan vs ZanzibarRwanda vs Ivory Coast Nov. 29 Ethiopia vs UgandaKenya vs Malawi WEST African giants Ivory Coast are one of Rwanda’s Group B opponents at this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup slated to run from November 21 to December 5 in Dar es Salaam. Heading into the competition, Amavubi head coach Sellas Tetteh will try not to dwell so much on the team’s recent meetings. In January, the wasps suffered a 0-2 defeat in Ivory Coast’s final build-up to the 2010 Africa Nations Cup which was held in Angola. And more recently, the team succumbed to a 0-3 defeat in the 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers. However, Tetteh and his wasps will take solace from the fact that Ivory Coast will be fielding a completely different side; the side will be without their star players like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers; Yaya and Kolo among others. Sudan and Zanzibar complete the group.Defending champions Uganda have been drawn in Group C against arch rivals Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi while Group A pits hosts Tanzania against Burundi, Somalia and one of the tournament’s guest teams Zambia. The draws were released yesterday at Dar es Salaam’s New Africa Hotel.With Djibouti and Eritrea both pulling out, the number of participating teams is down to twelve. The top two teams and the best two qualifiers from all the three groups will qualify to the quarter finals. Serengeti Breweries are the official sponsors after splashing $450,000 (approx. Rwf263m) into the two-week tournament. Ends

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Rwanda draws Ivory Coast in Challenge Cup