Amavubi Stars seek second CECAFA title

Rwanda and Uganda renew their rivalry in a CECAFA title decider in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today, and skipper Haruna Niyonzima is confident the Amavubi Stars are ready to sting the Cranes.

Friday, December 04, 2015
McKinstry speaks to Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima during a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Libya in Kigali last month. The Amavubi face Uganda Cranes in CECAFA in Ethiopia today. (Timothy Kisambira)

Saturday

Final

Rwanda vs Uganda 3:45pm

Third place play-off

Sudan vs Ethiopia 12:45pm

Thursday

Semi-finals

Uganda 0-0 Ethiopia (pen 5-3)Rwanda 1-1 Sudan (pen 4-2)

Rwanda and Uganda renew their rivalry in a CECAFA title decider in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today, and skipper Haruna Niyonzima is confident the Amavubi Stars are ready to sting the Cranes.

Speaking to Saturday Sport ahead of the highly anticipated final of the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup at the Addis Ababa National Stadium,

Niyonzima, who plies his trade with Tanzanian giants Young Africans, said he and his teammates were in a buoyant mood.

Rwanda are seeking a second CECAFA title to add to the one they won 16 years ago when Rwanda B defeated Kenya 3-1 at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali.

 "A final is different from other matches and we have played against Uganda so many times before, they beat us and we have beaten them as well, but this time we will be looking for nothing less than a win,” the former Etincelles, Rayon Sports and APR FC playmaker said.

Michel Rusheshangoga, Emery Bayisenge, Jacques Tuyisenge, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Eric Ndayishimiye, Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Claude Iranzi and Niyonzima were in the team that lost to Uganda in the final of the 2011 edition in Tanzania.

The teams played to a two-goal drew after regulation time with Uganda going on to win the title 3-2 on penalty shoot-outs.

Johnny McKinstry’s team will come up against former Rwanda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, who will be facing his former employers for the first time at a senior level since he sacked in April 2013.

Read full CECAFA final preview in the Saturday Sports Magazine inside.

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