Rwanda National Team head Coach Vincent Mashami says the win over the Hawks of TOGO to reach the quarterfinals will not make him a special coach, rather he thanks God for remembering his team.
Tuesday night, January 26, 2021, Amavubi led by head coach Mashami, in a historic win, advanced to the knockout stage of the CHAN Championship for the first time that this continental tournament has been played outside the Country. In this match, Rwanda had to come back from behind twice to earn a well-fought victory.
In the 45th minute of the game, Olivier Niyonzima canceled out Togo’s lead through a powerful header from Bayisenge’s well-taken free-kick. 14 minutes after the break, Togo took the led again but a minute later, the skipper, Jacques Tuyisenge scored a header to level the score.
Striker Ernest Sugira, who replaced Savio Nshuti in the second half, netted the winning goal for Amavubi in the 66th minute to secure the needed victory and send Amavubi to the quarter-finals. Rwanda finished second behind the defending champions Morocco in Group C. Togo and Uganda had to pack their bags and head back home.
In the post-match interview, the happy man, Vincent Mashami praised the efforts and fighting spirit of the whole team, support from the high administration the government, but first and foremost, the almighty for remembering him. Check the match Preview
“We are very happy, I thank the players so much for their efforts because it was not an easy game to prepare for. You know when you play against a team that has different ambitions from yours, it is not easy. Togo wanted a draw but on our side, it was a must-win game. Therefore, that is not easy when you meet an opponent like Togo, plus they are the best team tactically, it was not easy at all,” said Mashami.
“We have reason to be happy in this game. We always responded quickly, we wanted to score first but it did not work out for us as we were forced to make an early substitution for injured Thierry Manzi, Everything we planned immediately seemed to change. However, at the end of the day, we are happy because we have the win we fought for. I thank the boys, they stayed in control of the game, coming from behind twice against the well-organized team like this … I really thank them,” he added.
He continued, “I want to thank the whole Rwanda delegation here in Cameroon, but we also thank the government for their continued support.”
Even if the coach did not go into the tactics that led him to win the game in the post-match interview, it is very clear that this tactician had a good note on this match based on the impact of the substitutions made. However, he denied being sung as a hero of the game but rather praises God.
“The luck factor in football exists. I would not say I’m a special coach, because the situation we’ve been through isn’t the best. I would not say I’m an amazing coach, sometimes God remembers you. God remembered that we also need to be happy. With God’s help, the players had the strength to follow the instructions,” said coach Mashami.
Rwanda will have to wait for today’s games of Group D to find out their opponent in the quarter-finals.
