Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye is tipping the region’s three member countries in the third round to qualify for the finals of the 2010 African Cup of Nations finals in Angola. Musonye made the remarks immediately after the draw for the final qualifying round in Zurich last week, saying, “With good preparation, Kenya, Sudan and Rwanda will make it to the Angola finals.” “Making it that far is our priority,” said the regional soccer boss adding that the Council for East and Central African Football Associations was still determined to have at least one team at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. In an e-mail to Times Sport, the Nairobi based Cecafa official noted, “As part of our Vision 2010, we planned to take three teams to Angola and at least one to South Africa. At this stage we are still on course.” He said Cecafa hopes to be well represented at the two tournaments, not only by participating teams, but also by officials and referees. Musonye urged all Cecafa countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia to work together towards realizing the 2010 dream. He said it was important for the three qualified teams to make use of all Fifa friendly windows to play international friendlies, which would help them in their preparations. He also urged those countries that have not qualified to assist their ‘brothers’ with friendly match opportunities. Since 2000, Cecafa has been represented only at two finals, 2004 (Rwanda and Kenya in Tunisia) and Sudan in 2008 held in Ghana and it would be looking at the same teams for any chance of having a representative in Angola. Rwanda is in group C along with Egypt, Algeria and Zambia. Kenya are in group B together with Nigeria, Tunisia and Mozambique, while Sudan are in group D with Benin, Ghana and Mali. Ends
