Amavubi urged to focus on CAN 2013

2013 Nations Cup qualifiers (Feb. 29) 1st leg Rwanda vs Nigeria Ethiopia vs Benin Rwanda vs Nigeria C. Brazzaville vs Uganda Burundi vs Zimbabwe Kenya vs Togo Tanzania vs Mozambique AFTER a promising display in the 2011 Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup which climaxed last Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Amavubi have been urged to continue their progress starting with the upcoming 2013 African Nations Cup qualifiers. Rwanda is scheduled to play Nigeria in a two-legged qualifier early next year. The Minister of Sports and Culture Protais Mitali believes that the team’s defeat in the Cecafa final will drive the players to work even harder. “I can guarantee you (Amavubi) that you have the government’s support and ask you (players) to believe in yourselves,” Mitali was quoted as saying. Amavubi captain Olivier Karekezi added, “It’s still hard to come to terms with the fact that we lost the final but the team’s performance throughout the tournament is proof that we are on the way up and it’s our (players) job to make sure we keep improving ahead of the Nigeria qualifier.” The first leg will be played in Kigali on February 29 before Milutin Micho and his team flies to Abuja for the return leg on the weekend of June 15-17. Five years ago, Rwanda stopped the Super Eagles from qualifying for the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany after holding the star-studded side to a 1-all draw in Kigali. In fact, Nigeria had Obafemi Martins to thank for a late equalizer after Jimmy Gatete’s first half strike. The preliminary phase of the qualifiers will start with countries which failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup which kicks off January 21 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Fifteen countries that make it through the preliminary round will be drawn against fifteen teams from the 2012 tournament. South Africa qualifies automatically as the host nation, after taking over from Libya, who will now organize the 2017 competition. All 16 teams who will compete in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon 2012 get a bye to the final round of qualifiers. bonnie.mugabe@newtimes.co.rw