Rwanda qualify for 2011 Youth World Cup

By FeverPitch Reporter

Kigali burst into song and dance on Tuesday after the Rwanda national Under-17 side beat Egypt 1-0 to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in Mexico.

The win at the Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo gave the Junior Wasps their sixth point and a place in the semi-finals of the African finals, which meant an automatic ticket to the June world event.

Rwanda scored as early as the ninth minute from Faustin Usengimana’s header and defended strongly for their second victory in as many matches.

Even when they were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute following the sending off of Eric Nsabimana, the Kigali side held their own to snatch maximum points.

The Rwandese had started the tournament by winning 2-1 against Burkina Faso last Saturday. The Burkinabe got some lifeline on Tuesday when they beat Senegal 3-2 to return into contention.

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They will know their fate on Friday when they take on Egypt in a match whose winner joins Rwanda in Mexico. The Egyptians are also on three points after beating homebound Senegal 2-1 in their opening match.

Rwanda players celebrate after booking a ticket to the Youth World Cup in Mexico. [PHOTO: CORRESPONDENT]

Burkina Faso benefited from a four-minute blitz that saw them score three goals through Zaniou Sana (25th and 29th minutes) and Zerbo Ben Issa (28th).

Senegal controlled the second half reducing the margin in the 50th minute through Remi Nassalam and two minutes later through Ibrahima Drame, but they failed to get the goal that could have postponed their departure.

The situation in Group B that is based in Gibsonia was expected to be clearer yesterday when Congo played Ivory Coast and Mali faced Gambia.

Congo and the Ivorian control the group after their 3-0 and 2-1 victories over champions Gambia and Mali and the winner of their clash automatically qualifies for Mexico.

Rwanda Praised

Congratulations for the Rwandese team were quick in pouring in with the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) terming the qualification as the best thing to have happened to regional football in recent times.

"We are working on getting a team to the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014 and by Rwanda making it to the Under-17 World Cup we are surely on the right track," said Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye in a message from Nairobi.

Other messages were received from Fifa and CAF.

"We played a great game and this is as a result of a good job done by many people here," said the Rwanda coach Richard Tardy.