Kigali — It was the worst possible but inevitably expected start as Rwanda's Amavubi Stars launched their campaign in the Orange CAN 2012 qualifiers with a 3-0 loss to Ivory Coast in a Group H match played Saturday evening in Abidjan.

       It took only nine minutes for the hosts to take the lead when Manchester City's recent signing on of Yaya Toure capitalized on a mixture of indecisive defending and nervousness in the visitor's central defensive partnership of Didir Kapet and Boubakary Saddou.

       And eight minutes later, before Amavubi players had settled, Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou made the pair (Saddou and Kapet) look like real amateurs when he beat them to a loose ball to score the second past goalie a helpless Jean Luc Ndayishimiye in the Amavubi's goal.

        With Lille's Gervinho and Kalou causing all sorts of problems for the shaken Sellas Tetteh's youthful side, Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue emerged from the midfield to slot in the third goal at the 38th minute. At this point, it was game over.

       With Amavubi Stars in a deficit of three goals by half-time, Tetteh introduced APR defender Ismail Nshutinamagara for the dreadful Saddou, who was at fault for all the three goals.

        Under-performing Cyprus based midfielder Louis Aniweta was also replaced by Tumaine Ntamuhanga. Rayon Sports winger Jamal Mwiseneza came in for his club mate Jerome Sina and the trio made the difference, which was coupled with the fact that the Ivorians seemed to switch off in the second half.

       Both Saddou and Aniweta proved reasons why Tetteh never wanted to rely on professional players in this qualifying campaign. The pair was the worst performers and it was no surprise that they were the first to be replaced when the coach deemed it necessary.