CHAN will cost over Rwf16 billion

Group A: Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, GabonGroup B: DRC, Ethiopia, Cameroon, AngolaGroup C: Tunisia, Guinea, Niger, NigeriaGroup D: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Mali The fourth edition of Africa Nations Championships tournament which will kick off on January 16 and run through to February 7, will cost the Rwandan government about Rwf16 billion, according to the organizers. The Minister of Sports and Culture, Julianne Uwacu, while addressing a press conference on Friday the ministry headquarters at Amahoro national stadium, she said that hosts Rwanda is ready for the event. Uwacu, who was flanked by the president of the tournament’s Local Organizing Committee, Vincent Nzamwita, who is also the head of the Rwandan Football Association (FERWAFA), said that the preparations are going well and everything is in place to host memorable event. She said that all the games will be broadcast live on international television and Rwanda TV. She also revealed that everyone coming for the three-week tournament will not require entry visa into Rwanda. “We believe that Rwanda is able and capable of hosting a successful CHAN, everything is in place for the tournament,” the Minister said. She added that, “We started early work on all the four stadiums and the training pitches in partnership with the Rwanda Housing Authority. Rwanda will be ready for the competition; the hotels are on high standard, and we believe that we are going to celebrate African football in Rwanda.” In a bid to host a memorable tournament, the government of Rwanda has invested up to Rwf14 billion putting up new infrastructures as well as rehabilitations of all four stadiums as the training grounds, according to the minister. The other Rwf2 billion has so far gone into organization of the whole event including accommodation for all the 16 participating teams and internal transportation among others. The competition will be held at Amahoro national Stadium, Kigali Regional Stadium, Huye Stadium and Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu District. Hosts Rwanda, who didn’t have to go through the rigors of qualifying courtesy of being hosts, are in Group A along with Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Gabon. This group will be based at Amahoro national stadium. Johnny McKinstry’s team will open their campaign against Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match. Group B, which will be based in Huye, comprise of DRC, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Angola, while Tunisia, Guinea, Niger and Nigeria are in Group C and will be based at Kigali Regional Stadium. Group D, which will play in Rubavu, has Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and Mali. Rwanda is the fourth country to host Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) after Cote d’Ivoire in 2009, Sudan in 2011 and South Africa 2014. editorial@newtimes.co.rw