Women football: 36 summoned for Afcon qualifier

National coach Grace Nyinawumuntu has summoned a provisional squad of 36 players to start preparations for next month’s CAF Africa Women’s Championship qualifiers against Kenya. The race to the 2014 finals, which will be staged in Namibia, will see Rwanda take on Kenya for the very first time in the history of women’s football as both teams try to qualify for the ninth edition of the continental competition.Rwanda will host Kenya in the first leg on the weekend of February 13-15 in Kigali, according to the fixtures. A record 25 teams will vie for the seven places up for grabs to join hosts Namibia for the finals scheduled October 11-25. Nyinawumuntu, 31, expressed optimism that her team will overcome the Kenya hurdle.The second leg is scheduled for February 28 through March 2 in Nairobi, Kenya with the winner proceeding to the next round to face the winner in the Nigeria/Sierra Leone fixture. Rwanda’s last competitive game was in 2009 – against Uganda – in the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers which they lost 1-0 in Kigali.The second and final round first leg matches will be played from May 23-25 and the second leg matches between June 7 and 8 to decide who join Namibia for the finals in Windhoek.Equatorial Guinea won the last edition after beating South Africa 4-0 in the final, while Cameroon edged Nigeria 1-0 to claim third place.Equatorial Guinea, runners-up South Africa and bronze medalists Cameroon will only join the qualifiers quest in the second round.Rwanda women team:Judith Ingabire [AS Kigali], Helene Uwizeyimana [AS Kigali], Appoline Umuhoza [Inyemera], Janviere [AS Kigali], Bellancille Uwisezerano [Esir], Gloria Nibagwire [AS Kigali], Clementine Mukamana [AS Kigali], Marie Claire Uwamahoro [AS Kigali], Clementine Ayingeneye [AS Kigali], Edith Umulisa [AS Kigali], Claudine Murorunkwere [Rambura], Gloriose Uwamahoro [Rambura], Jeanette Mukeshimana [Inyemera], Diane Kitumaine [Winners], Dada Umutoni [Inyemera], Alice Kalimba [AS Kigali], Chadia Uwamahirwe [AS Kigali], Sophie Niyomugaba [AS Kigali], Alice Niyoyita [Kamonyi], Mediatrice Abayo [Kamonyi], Albertine Mukashema [Inyemera], Nadia Uwineza [AS Kigali], Marie Claire Uwamahoro [Inyemera], Yvonne Mukamaliza [Inyemera], Saida Ntagisanimana [AS Kigali], Djamila Abimana [Kamonyi],Agathe Iririkumutimana [Les Lionnes], Jeanne Nyirahafashimana [AS Kigali],Anne Marie Ibangarye [AS Kigali], Florence Imanizabayo [Kamonyi], Vumirya [Winners], Claire Umulisa [Winners], Fatuma Kankindi [Inyemera], Anatolie Nirere [Inyemera], Grace Uwimana [Rambura] and Oscarie Iragena [Zambia]

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Women football: 36 summoned for Afcon qualifier