Mashami unveils 23-man Amavubi squad for the back-to-back AFCON 2021 Qualifier double-header against Cape Verde.
Rwanda National Team head coach, Vincent Mashami named the final squad that will travel to Praia to play the third game of AFCON 2021 Qualifiers in Group F before they return to host the fourth 5 days later.
21 Players with technical staff and delegates will fly to Praia on Monday, November 9 via a Rwandair Chartered flight.
Among the 23 players called by Mashami, two foreign-based players who still had obligations with their clubs will link up with the squad in Cape Verde. Those are Sandvikens’ Mukunzi and Waasaland Beveren’s Bizimana.
Cape Verde host the first match of this back-to-back double-header on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at Estádio Nacional ‘Blue Shark’ Cabo Verde. After that, Amavubi who were given the National Airline will have to travel back home immediately to prepare the return leg scheduled on November 17 at Kigali Stadium.
Rwanda’s hope to qualify is very slim as they are bottom of the group without a point after two loses; 2-0 in Maputo against Mozambique and 1-0 to Cameroon in Kigali. Mozambique tops the group with 4 points and a goal difference of 2 and Cameroon has 4 points but with a goal difference of 1. Cape Verde is ranked third with 2 points.
Rwanda National Football team is ranked 133rd in the FIFA World Football ranking and the last match they played was against Cameroon on November 17, 2019. Amavubi lost the game one goal to nill at Kigali Stadium. So, it has been close to a year since they played competitive football.
23-Man Amavubi Squad
Goal Keepers: Kimenyi Yves (SC Kiyovu), Kwizera Olivier (Rayon sports FC) and Ndayishimiye Eric (AS Kigali)
Defenders: Manzi Thierry (APR FC), Mutsinzi Ange (APR FC), Fitina Ombolenga (APR FC), Imanishimwe Emmanuel (APR FC), Rutanga Eric (Police FC), Rwatubyaye Abdoul (Suitchbacks), Nsabimana Aimable (Police FC) and Rugwiro Herve (Rayon Sports FC),
Midfielders: Manishimwe Djabel (APR FC), Niyonzima Ally (Azam FC), Mukunzi Yannick (Sandvikens), Muhire Kevin (Tela’ea el gaish), Bizimana Djihad (Waasaland beveren), Niyonzima Haruna (Young Africans), and Rubanguka Steve ( A.E. Karaiskakis)
Forwards: Iyabivuze Ossee (Police FC), Tuyisenge Jacques (APR FC), Kagere Meddie (SC Simba), Hakizimana Muhadjili (AS Kigali) and Nshuti Dominique savior (Police FC)
