Egypt skipper refuses to give up

Captain Ahmed Hassan insists Egypt can put their 2010 World Cup back on track with victory over Rwanda on Sunday.

The Pharaohs lie bottom of Group C with just one point after drawing against Zambia and defeat to Algeria.

Only victory at Cairo Stadium will keep the African champions in contention for first place and a World Cup ticket.

Midfielder Hassan believes the North Africans can secure three points in their Cairo backyard.

"Even if we have 50 percent hope we must hold on to it. We still have four games left and if we win them all we will be at the World Cup," Hassan told local reporters.

"We suffered a heavy defeat in Algeria last month and the players know they did not play well. No individual is to blame for that loss. We were all responsible."

After being held goalless at home by Algeria and suffering a solitary-goal loss in Zambia, a Rwandan team coached by Croatia's Branko Tucak has also arrived at the last chance saloon.

Tucak boasted before the qualifiers began last March that the tiny central African nation could top the table and reach the World Cup finals for the first time.

But those expectations have been downgraded to a top-three finish and a place at the African Nations Cup in Angola six months before the first World Cup to be staged in Africa kicks off.

The winners of the five qualifying groups advance to the World Cup where they will be joined by hosts South Africa while the top three in each pool compete for the Nations Cup beside Angola.