Rwanda will face Sudan in the first round of the qualifying rounds of the African Nations Championships due on the weekend of May 2-4 in Khartoum. The Amavubi Stars advanced to the first round after seeing off Burundi in a goalless draw played yesterday at Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium in Bujumbura. The goalless draw ensured the Amavubi Stars progress on 1-0 goal aggregate attained in the first leg clash played in Kigali a fortnight ago. Abedi Mulenda strike in the first leg was maintained in yesterday’s game thus enabling Amavubi Stars to sail to the next round of the qualifying rounds of the maiden edition of the tournament exclusively reserved for footballers playing in their domestic leagues. Rwanda which lost to Sudan on 4-5 penalties after a 2-all draw in last year’s Cecafa Cup held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania will be playing for revenge. The qualification proved right the tactics of newly appointed Amavubi coach Raoul Shungu who was making his debut with Rwanda’s national team after being appointed last week. Shungu took over the reins of the national football team after a two months’ era of mixed results under Atraco’s Jean-Marie Ntagwabira and ex-Rayon coach Antoine Rutsindura. The local football body, Ferwafa has since unveiled Shungu as head team coach assisted by ex-international Eric Nshimiyimana in quest of turning around the waning national team fortunes. Cote d’Ivoire will host the final tournament from February 22 – March 8, 2009. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s U-17 national team was held to a 2-all draw by Kenya. Goals from Christian Muhoza and Hegman Ngoma couldn’t secure the deserved victory which now leaves Rwanda with a mountain to climb in Nairobi. Ends
