Tomorrow

Burundi   vs Rwanda

Midfielder Moussa Mutuyimana abandoned from Amavubi Stars’ camp at the last minute as the team prepared to depart for Bujumbura for tomorrow’s Fifa international friendly match against Burundi. The team left for Bujumbura yesterday without the player.

The Police FC player was part of the final 20-man squad picked by head coach Eric Nshimiyimana after a week of intensive training. 

Mutuyimana is a DR Congo-born neutralised Rwandan and a brother to DR Congo national team player Thierry Kasereka.

According to the national team manager Alfred Ngarambe, the player escaped from camp as the team prepared to travel to the airport on Monday morning.

"He said he had family matters to attend to as we prepared to depart for the airport. He had not raised any issue during the week-long camp and he trained very well with the rest of the squad,” Ngarambe told Times Sport.

The official said they were stunned by the player’s action to leave camp at the last minute without authorisation.

Attempts by Times Sport to reach Mutuyimana proved futile as his known personal mobile number was not accessible by press time.

Coach Nshimiyimana will have to rely on midfielders Leon Uwambazimana, Jean Baptist Mugiraneza and Fabrice Twagizimana to create a solid link in the defensive midfield against a well-organised Burundi team.

Meanwhile, the team has also been boosted with the arrival of defender Salomon Nirisarike [Royal Antwerp] and striker Elias Uzamukunda [AS Cannes], who arrived in the country Sunday night.

After a humiliating 4-0 loss to league side APR in a training match last week, Nshimiyimana and his players need to beat Burundi to win back the trust of fans, who have expressed displeasure at the team’s continued poor performance.

And the task will be made harder with the absence of skipper Haruna Niyonzima, who was denied permission by his club, Young Africans due to their engagement in the Caf Champions League against holders Al Ahly.

Burundi is ranked 124 on Fifa rankings, ten places better than Rwanda. Burundi also took part in the 2014 Africa Nations Championship [Chan] but failed to go past the group stage.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye [Rayon] and Olivier Kwizera [APR]

Defenders: Emery Bayisenge [APR], Amani Uwilingiyimana [Police], Ismael Nshutiyamagara [APR], Michel Rusheshangonga [APR], Fitina Omborenga [SC Kiyovu], Abouba Sibomana [Rayon] and Salomon Nirisarike [Antwerp]

Midfielders: Leon Uwambazimana [Rayon], Jean Baptista Mugiraneza [APR], Fabrice Twagizimana [Police], Patrick Sibomana [APR], Charles Tibingana [APR], Djamal Mwiseneza [Rayon], Andrew Buteera [APR] and Cyiza Hussein Mugabo [Mukura].

Strikers: Meddie Kagere [Rayon], Elias Uzamukunda [AS Cannes] and Michel Ndahinduka [APR]