Saturday

Return leg

Uganda U20 vs Rwanda U20

Rwanda Under-20 national football team travelled to Kampala on Thursday ahead of their return leg of the first round of the CAF U-20 qualifiers against Uganda Hippos on Saturday at Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Head coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga is hopeful his young troops will snatch a positive away result when both sides meet in the African Youth Championships qualifier.

Two weeks ago, Junior Wasps managed a 1-all draw against Hippos in the first leg played at Kigali Regional Stadium in Nyamirambo.

The winner will progress to face Egypt for a slot at the Africa Nations U-20 championships that will be played in Zambia later this year.

"I believe my players will give their best like they did in first leg to reach next round. We have prepared well and we know we are going to face an even bigger task in the return leg,” Kayiranga said.

Kayiranga acknowledged that the match will be difficult but they will avoid conceding and try to look for away goal.

He noted that, "We have strength in the team and I am optimistic of staging an impressive performance in the second leg.”

"The tie is still a 50/50, any team can qualify to the next round, so we will do everything possible to win the game in Uganda,” he added.

In the first leg, APR forward Blaise Itangishaka scored for home side before Edrisa Lubega equalized for visitors.

Seven qualified teams will join hosts Zambia for the tournament next year from February 26-March 12.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw