Daniel R. Kasule
31 October 2008
Kigali — It's now official. The 2010 World Cup qualifier between Egypt and Rwanda in Cairo has been shifted as a result of the African champions' participation at the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup.
The match was originally fixed to be played on the weekend of June 20-21 but it will now take place on July 4 or 5.
Six-time African champions Egypt will feature in the Confederations Cup in South Africa which runs from June 14 - 28.
The Pharaohs have been drawn alongside Algeria, Rwanda and Zambia in Group three of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, which also serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2010 Africa Cup of nations in Angola.
The other top seeds will surely look at Egypt's group with envy. The North African giant have an excellent chance of ending their 20-year wait for an appearance at the World Cup finals.
Hassan Shehata's side has eased through qualifying so far, and has one of the hottest properties in African football leading the line in Amr Zaki.
However, it's no foregone conclusion as they will first have to overcome an Algerian side brimming with confidence after knocking out both Senegal and Gambia.
Zambia are another side who have punched above their weight in qualifiers, beating Togo to top spot in their previous group.
Rwanda will be hoping to finish inside the top three in Group C, having failed to qualify for the last two Nations Cup finals.
The Amavubi Stars open their campaign on March 28, 2009 at home to Algeria, travel to Zambia on June 6 before winding the first leg matches with a daunting away tie against Egypt on July 4 or 5.
And when the second leg matches gets underway, Tucak's team host the record six-time. African champions, Egypt on September 5, travel to Algeria on October 10 before winding up the campaign with a home clash with Zambia on November 14.
The Fifa Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 should provide a tantalizing appetizer ahead of world football's main event; the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
World champions Italy, European champions Spain and South American champions Brazil are all due to grace the intercontinental showpiece scheduled for summer 2009.
The tickets for the elite event will go on sale as of 23 November 2008, the day after the official draw takes place.
2010 WC/CAN
Full draw for final group stage
Group One: Cameroon, Morocco, Gabon, Togo
Group Two: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Mozambique
Group Three: Egypt, Algeria, Zambia, Rwanda
Group Four: Ghana, Mali, Benin, Sudan
Group Five: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Malawi
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