Rwanda U23 head coach Eric Nshimiyimana has urged his players to remain focused after securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Sudan in the first leg of the preliminary qualifiers for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. The Junior Wasps delivered an impressive performance at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Wednesday, September 30, with goals from Abdul Niyigena, Honoré Shingiro and Paul Jesus Sindi giving Rwanda a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg in Juba on October 6. Despite the comfortable lead, Nshimiyimana stressed that qualification is far from secured and called on his players to maintain their concentration. “We have unfinished work because we have the second leg in Sudan, so we must be ready and prepared for the match, which is near,” Nshimiyimana said. The coach acknowledged the quality of the Sudanese side and warned his players against complacency as Rwanda prepares to defend its advantage away from home. “They have a good team with good players, so we have to make sure that we build more confidence and build on this win so that we can eliminate them,” he added. Nshimiyimana also credited the team's performance to a tactical approach aligned with the philosophy of the senior national team under head coach Stephen Constantine. “We are working in line with the philosophy of the senior national team. The players understand what is required, and that helped us execute our game plan well against Sudan,” said the former Rwanda captain. The victory gives Rwanda a significant cushion heading into the return leg. A positive result in Juba would see the Junior Wasps advance to the next stage of the qualification campaign for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Egypt.
