AMAVUBI head coach Johnny McKinstry has praised defensive midfielder Ally Niyonzima for his impressive performance during an international friendly against Senegal on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium, which Rwanda lost 0-2. 

The 20-year-old Mukura midfielder came on as a second half substitute for APR’s midfielder Yannick Mukunzi when Rwanda was already two goals down. Despite coming on late, he made good passes and movement on the field which impressed McKinstry.

"There were also good performances from a number of individuals, but Ally Niyonzima looked confident and assured on his debut. Not an easy thing to do when the player opposite you had a market value in excess of $30,000,000,” McKinstry said.

Niyonzima’s performance raised his chances of making it on the 18-man Amavubi team which will face Mozambique on Saturday.

Amavubi will be looking to win the game to boost their chances of qualifying for Africa’s largest tournament.

Rwanda beat Mozambique in the first leg, before losing to Ghana and Mauritius but they went on to humiliate Mauritius in the second leg in Kigali with 5-0 at Amahoro Stadium.

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