Johnny McKinstry is hopeful that Amavubi will overturn the first leg deficit suffered against Libya on Friday when the two teams meet in the second leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers on Tuesday at Kigali Regional Stadium.
CAF Zone: 2nd Round
FridayMadagascar 2 - 2 SenegalComoros 0 - 0 GhanaKenya 1 - 0 Cape VerdeLibya 1 - 0 RwandaAngola 1 - 3 South AfricaNiger 0 - 3 CameroonLiberia 0 - 1 Ivory CoastMauritania 1 - 2 TunisiaSwaziland 0 - 0 Nigeria
Today: Second LegUganda vs Togo Zambia vs Sudan Congo DR vs BurundiEq. Guinea vs Morocco Guinea vs Namibia
Johnny McKinstry is hopeful that Amavubi will overturn the first leg deficit suffered against Libya on Friday when the two teams meet in the second leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers on Tuesday at Kigali Regional Stadium.
Amavubi Stars lost 1-0 at Stade Olympique du Sousse in Tunisia courtesy of a Faisal Al-Badri 48th minute goal, a result which condemned Rwanda to a fifth consecutive defeat in just over two months.
The first half ended goalless with Rwanda missing a chance to score through Quentin Rushenguziminega off Haruna Niyonzima’s cross. Libya had also one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, a free kick taken by Al Moatesembe Ali which was well saved by Amavubi goalkeeper Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye.
Amavubi pressed hard for an equalizer with attempts from Jacques Tuyisenge, Hegman Ngomirakiza, Ernest Sugira and Rushenguziminega but their efforts were fruitless.
With a slim margin going into the second leg, McKinstry is confident of overturning the result and qualify to the group stages proper.
Despite disappointing results against Ghana, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Tunisia U23 team, for McKinstry, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The Northern Irishman said, "The only save that our keeper made was the only free kick they had before we conceded a penalty. That’s very frustrating; they have talented players but they didn’t create many chances from open play.”
"The goal came so early in the second period and it allowed Libya to sit back and play on counter attack. We created one or two things but they were not enough. Nonetheless, we have got another 90 minutes, so all is not lost in this tie.
"Libya will not find it easy in Kigali playing at an altitude in Kigali and synthetic field; therefore, if we play at a high intensity, we know we will turn around the result,” the 30-year McKinstry explained.
He noted that, "Libya will try to play a defensive game but we have to go for the goal and play at our full potential. I am confident we will progress to the group stages.”
Amavubi team left Tunis on Saturday morning to Instabul, Turkey where they will connect to Kigali aboard Turkish Airways and arrive in Kigali on Sunday.
The team will head straight into residential camp at Golden Tulip in Nyamata before holding their training sessions at Kigali Regional Stadium on Sunday afternoon and Monday.