Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars Off To Egypt For World Cup Qualifier

Rwanda will fly to Cairo on Thursday evening ready for combat against African champions, Egypt on Sunday for the 2010 World/Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

The 30-man squad included two Cameroonian born players Kaper Kauimi Didier and Cyrille Bille Kauame as well as FC Brussels striker, Jean Paul Lutula.

Ahead of Sunday's showdown, Ferwafa's Chief Executive Officer Jules Kalisa told the New Times Sport that the team are in the right frame of mind and promised Rwandans a better performance than what they saw in Zambia two weeks ago.

"The team are going into Sunday's game with the right attitude because they have had good preparations," Kalisa said.

Rwanda need a win from the make-or-break qualifier after an awful start to their 2010 World/Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign. Amavubi managed one point out of a possible six from their opening qualifiers against Algeria, which they drew 0-0, and Zambia, which they lost 1-0.

Egypt's pharaohs, meanwhile, also find themselves at the wrong end of the table after a disastrous run.

The African champions, fresh from the Confederations Cup in South Africa have collected one point from their opening qualifiers after a 1-1 draw against Zambia and 1-3 defeat away to Algeria.

Meanwhile, Saidi Abedi Makasi and Jimmy Mulisa were dropped from the Rwandan squad. The pair was among nine players omitted by Branko Tucak. Makasi is the country's joint scorer with skipper Olivier Karekezi in this qualification campaign with three goals.

Makasi with 17 international caps for Rwanda has not played competitive club football in a while. Other players left out of the squad include Jimmy Mwiseneza, Yussuf Ndayishimiye, Arafat Serugendo, Jean Bosco Uwacu, Hakiri Mabula, Patrick Rutayisire and Emery Mvuyekure.

Rwanda Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jean Claude Ndoli and Jean Luc Ndayishimiye

Defenders: Mbuyu Twite, Hamad Ndikumana, Boubakary Saddou, Bonaventure Hategikimana, Elias Ntaganda and Kaper Kauimi Didier

Midfielders: Jean Mugiraneza, Mutesa Mafisango, Haruna Niyonzima, Olivier Karekezi, Albert Ngabo and Tuyisenge Pekeyake

Strikers: Bokota Labama, Jimmy Gatete, Jean Paul Lutula and Cyrille Bille Kauame.

James Momanyi, Goal.com