Amavubi step up preps ahead of Ghana clash

September 3 Group HGhana vs RwandaMozambique vs Mauritius Amavubi have intensified preparations for the 2017 Africa Cup Nations final Group H qualifier, against Ghana, which is scheduled for September 3 at the Accra Sports Stadium. The team is working under the tutelage of interim head coach Jimmy Mulisa, his assistant Mashami Vincent, and new goalkeeping coach Thomas Higiro. The national team, which started training last Wednesday at Kigali Regional Stadium, yesterday moved their drills to Amahoro National Stadium. According to inside sources, the technical staff didn’t want to leave anything to chance, which is why they decided to have the team train on both artificial (Kigali stadium) and grass (Amahoro) pitches, just in case there is a change of venue in Ghana. APR FC winger Innocent Habyarimana has been the only addition to the provisional 26-man squad which was summoned last Sunday to enter residential camp at La Palisse Hotel in Nyandungu. Tanzania-based duo of Jean Baptista Mugiraneza (Azam FC) and skipper Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga) as well as Kenya’s Gor Mahia striker Jacques Tuyisenge joined the rest of Amavubi squad on Saturday. Despite being out of contention for a place in the 2017 Africa Nations’ Cup finals in Gabon, the Amavubi will be aiming for a win against the Black Stars in bid to breathe life into their recent poor FIFA rankings. Rwanda are currently ranked 121st in the latest release. The Amavubi blew their chances to book a ticket to Gabon when they lost 1-0 to Mauritius in Belle Vue in March before succumbing to a shock 3-2 loss to Mozambique in Kigali in June. The Black Stars lead Group H with 13 points, having already booked a place to the finals tournament while Rwanda, despite those two defeats, remain in second place with six points, level with Mauritius, who will host bottom-placed Mozambique (4 points) on September 3. editorial@newtimes.co.rw