Warm-up match Tuesday Rwanda U20 2-1 SC Kiyovu Despitehis team defeating league side SC Kiyovu 2-1 in a warm-up match on Tuesday at Amahoro National Stadium, Rwanda U20 head coach Vincent Mashami admits his youthful side is “not yet there” in terms in readiness. The junior national team is preparing for the 2019 U20 Africa Cup of Nations two-legged qualifier against Kenya next month. In first build-up, Rwanda U20 drew 1-1 against another league outfit, Police FC last Saturday. Alexis Ngirimana put SC Kiyovu in the lead in the 20th minute before Protais Sindambiwe, who plays for second division side Intare FC, equalized for the U20 side in the 39th minute. APR FC young forward, Lague Byiringiro, netted the winning the goal for U 20 side in the 73rd minute. “We had a good game-plan for the second warm-up match – which we have managed to win – but also played well but we still have a lot of work to do before we’re ready for the Kenya match. East African teams like to play direct balls and physical football, so we need to work on that aspect,” Mashami said. The Amavubi assistant coach was without key defender, Prince Buregeya, who was released to return to APR for their rescheduled Azam Rwanda Premier League matchday 15 game against Gicumbi FC on Wednesday. Mashami will name the final 18-man squad, which is likely to include Buregeya, on Thursday (today) before the team travels to Nairobi on Friday. The first leg will be staged on April 1 at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County; while the return leg will be played on April 21 at Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo. The winner between Rwanda and Kenya will face defending champions Zambia in the second round in May. The final qualifying round will be staged in July with the winner earning automatic slots to next year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations. The U-20 Africa Cup of Nations is held every two years with the top 4 teams qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
