Football / “Echorouk” in the heart of the Kigali event: “Over 56% of Rwandans expect Algeria's victory over low-profile Rwanda”.
Algeria football line-up.
The crucial opening match slated for next Saturday at 14h 30mn (Algerian time) in Kigali between Rwanda and Algeria, as part of the combined qualifications to the 2010 World cup / Africa cup of Nations competition, is now at the centre of endless discussions and wagers in the Rwandan capital where football fans are waxing rather pessimistic as to the Rwandan squad's chances of success versus the fearsome Algerian Fennecs.
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According to a recent opinion poll conducted by the relevant services of the Rwanda Football Federation , 56% of Rwandans expect an outright Algerian victory in Kigali, while 37% others bank on a Rwanda win versus Algeria and just 8% expect a draw.
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According to Echorouk’s special envoy to Kigali, where he is to cover this football event for our readers, the weather is now rainy and dull over Kigali with temperatures averaging 24 degrees centigrade.
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On the technical plan, Rwanda’s coach Croat M. Tokak said in a statement to the local press that his line – up suffered from several glaring drawbacks and lacked the necessary experience to face up successfully to the Algeria squad.
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Tokak, who clearly expressed his apprehensions and his pessimism as to the chances of his team, was also left in the lurch by his closest collaborator Raoul Tachango who abruptly resigned from the technical staff leaving the head Coach to take on, alone, the responsibility of a much-feared debacle of the Rwanda national team in the qualifying contest.
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This deleterious atmosphere, now besetting the Rwanda technical staff, has been severely lambasted by the local press which says bluntly that a victory over Algeria next Saturday in Kigali will be tantamount to what it calls “a great feat” for the Rwanda line-up.
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The talented Algerian striker Hadj Aissa pledged to do his utmost with the help of his teammates on the pitch to snatch the 3 points of victory over Rwanda in order to engage in the competition in the most appropriate conditions in expectation of the next decisive qualifiers awaiting the “Greens”.
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