Vincent Mashami, the national football team head has named the final squad of 30 players for the forthcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament which is slated January 16 to February 7, 2021, in Cameroon.
Mashami announced the final squad on Friday evening after weeks of intensively training in residential camp.
Mashami dropped three payers including; Onesme Twizerimana (Musanze), Patrick Sibomana of Police and Ally Serumogo of SC Kiyovu.
Amavubi have also been training under floodlights at Amahoro stadium so as to prepare for the tourney’s matches, which will be played at night.
Amavubi’s first match against Uganda on January 18, 2021, will take place at 9 pm, Cameroon time (10 pm Kigali time).
Rwanda is in pool C alongside powerhouse Morocco, Togo, and regional rivals Uganda.
Amavubi is expected to travel to Cameroon on January 11.
Mashami, who was an assistant coach during the 2016 CHAN tournament, will be facing his former boss Johnny McKinstry, who coaches the Uganda Cranes.
Meanwhile, after playing a 2-all draw against Congo Brazzaville on Wednesday, Amavubi will take on the same team in another build-up match on Sunday also at Amahoro stadium.
Final squad
Goalkeepers: Yves Kimenyi (Kiyovu Sports), Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye (AS Kigali), Olivier Kwizera (Rayon Sports) and Umar Rwabugiri (APR FC).
Defenders: Thierry Manzi (APR FC), Ange Mutsinzi (APR FC), Hervé Rugwiro (Rayon Sports), Aimable Nsabimana (Police FC), Fitina Omborenga (APR FC), Emnanuel Imanishimwe (APR FC), Eric Rutanga (Police FC), Claude Niyomugabo (APR FC), Faustin Usengimana (Police FC) and Bayisenge Emery (AS Kigali).
Midfielders: Olivier ‘Seif’ Niyonzima (APR FC), Eric Ngendahimana (Kiyovu Sports), Martin Fabrice Twizeyimana (Police FC), Eric Nsabimana (AS Kigali), Jean Bosco Ruboneka (APR FC), Djabel Manishimwe (APR FC), Dominique Savio Nshuti (Police FC) and Rachid Kalisa (AS Kigali).
Strikers: Lague Byiringiro (APR FC), Ernest Sugira (Rayon Sports), Danny Usengimana (APR FC), Bertrand Iradukunda (Gasogi United), Osée Iyabivuze (Police FC), Justin Mico (Police FC), Jacques Tuyisenge (APR FC) and Muhadjiri Hakizimana (AS Kigali).