Amavubi start training for Mauritius clash

SIX Amavubi professional players have arrived in the county and joined the team’s training camp ahead of upcoming 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers double header against Mauritius.

Monday, March 21, 2016
Rushenguziminega during a previous training. (File)

March 26

Mauritius vs Rwanda

March 29

Rwanda vs Mauritius

June 3-5

Rwanda vs Mozambique

Sep. 2-4

Ghana vs Rwanda

SIX Amavubi professional players have arrived in the county and joined the team’s training camp ahead of upcoming 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers double header against Mauritius.

Last week, head coach Johnny McKinstry summoned a 26-man squad for the Group H duel against Mauritius on Saturday in Belle-Vue before the two teams meet again three days later in Kigali.

Defenders Abouba Sibomana (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Salomon Nirisarike (Sint-Truidense, Belgium) and striker Quentin Rushenguziminega (Lausanne Sport, Switzerland) jetted in on Sunday night.

Tanzanian-based duo of Jean Baptsite Mugiraneza (Azam FC) and Haruna Niyonzima (Young Africans) joined the team on Monday morning while France-based Elias ‘Baby’ Uzamukunda is expected in on Tuesday (today) morning.

The team entered residential camp at Golden Tulip Hotel in Nyamata on Sunday and started training on Monday afternoon at Amahoro National Stadium.

Defender Emery Bayisenge, who scored the opening goal of the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament in the 1-0 win over Ivory Coast, and Amavubi’s top scorer Ernest Sugira (3 goals), are amongst the retained players.

Amavubi will travel to Mauritius on Thursday evening aboard a chartered flight, two days before the first leg clash in Belle-Vue.

Rwanda won 1-0 away to Mozambique in the opening round in Maputo before suffering a 1-0 loss to Ghana’s Black Stars in the second match played in Kigali last September.

Ghana lead the group with six points, three ahead of second-placed Rwanda, and Mauritius, who lie in third place on goal difference while Mozambique are without a point.

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