Bonnie Mugabe
12 November 2009
Kigali — AMAVUBI Stars head coach Tucak Branko concedes that pressure will be on Amavubi and not Zambia when the two sides wrestle for that elusive 2010 Africa Nations Cup slot this Saturday at Amahoro Stadium.
The Croat, who has been in the spotlight for stubbornly shunning the media, noted that the mere fact that Rwanda is hosting the decisive tie puts the home side under more pressure.
But the 57-year-old maintains that the home pressure will not deter his team from finishing off the job. He says that the players are already psyched up for the contest.
"It is going to be a very tough game because of what is at stake. The boys will be under pressure because they are playing at their home turf but I'm not worried because I know that there is enough quality in the side to qualify the team to Angola," he said.
Rwanda, who are still looking for their first win in Group C need to win by a two-goal margin to secure their CAN ticket.
After five games, Amavubi are rooted at the foot of the group with a sole point. Algeria lead the group with 13 points while African champions Egypt and Zambia are second and third with 10 and four points respectively.
As Rwanda and Zambia scuffle for that final CAN slot, Egypt and Algeria will also be locked up in a top of the table clash as they chase for that sole World Cup ticket.
Amavubi boosted their confidence for Saturday's tie with a convincing 3-1 victory over top division side AS Kigali.
Haruna Niyonzima, Abbas Rassou and Olivier Karekezi scored for the Wasps while Amin Mwizerwa netted for AS Kigali.
Professional players like Hamad Ndikumana, Elias Lutula, Said Abedi Makasi and Louis Aniweta were unused substitutes.
2010 World/Africa Nations' Cup qualifier
Saturday
Rwanda v Zambia
Egypt v Algeria
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