Battle for national pride

As Benin and Rwanda face-off in last 2012 ANC qualifier TodayGroup HBenin vs Rwanda 4:00pmIvory Coast vs Burundi It will be a case of playing to national pride when Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars take on Benin this afternoon in the last 2012 Africa Nations’ Cup Group H qualifying match in Porto-Novo. Both teams are already out of contention to qualify for the finals tournament which will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, but there is the prize of national pride and finishing in a respectable position on the table at stake. Rwanda goes into today’s game occupying bottom position with three points from five qualifying matches, while their opponents are second, level on five points but the West Africans have a better goal difference. Amavubi Stars’ interim coach Eric Nshimiyimana and his players want to win today’s game which will put the team in good position ahead of the start of the 2014 Fifa World Cup preliminary qualifying campaign next month. Rwanda opens with Eritrea. The former Rwandan international made it clear in his final interview with Times Sport shortly before departure on Thursday that a win in Porto-Novo will not only salvage morale in the team but also help the country climb up in the FIFA rankings. “A win for us will help in many ways. We need to start winning matches before the World Cup qualifiers start to boost our morale, and we also need to do something about our FIFA ranking,” Nshimiyimana said, while summarizing Amavubi’s need to win. Benin won the corresponding fixture 3-0 at Amahoro stadium and will be hoping to do a double over their struggling opponents, who don’t have a good away record in African competitions. Amavubi squad:Goalkeepers: Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Luc Ndayishimiye a.k.a BakameDefenders: Eric Gasana, Ismail Nshutinamagara, Albert Ngabo, Frederick Ndaka, Hussein Sibomana, Kalisa MaoMidfielders: Haruna Niyonzima, Jerome Sina, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza a.k.a Migi, Charles Tibingana, Andrew Buteera, Jean Claude IranziStrikers: Elias Uzamukunda, Meddie Kagere, Olivier Karekezi, Jacques Tuyisenge. Ends