International friendly match

Friendly match, July 12

Rwanda vs. Gabon

Nations Cup qualifier, July 20

Congo vs. Rwanda

AMAVUBI HEAD COACH Stephen Constantine has named a 30-man provisional squad to start preparations for the final qualifying round tie of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Rwanda plays away to Congo Brazzaville on July 20 in Pointe-Noir in the first leg of the final preliminary round. The second leg will be staged in Kigali on August 2.

Constantine said the selection will give him an opportunity to assess the players ahead of the crucial qualifier. He made the remarks yesterday at a news briefing held at Ferwafa headquarters in Remera.

Amavubi will face Les Panthères of Gabon in an international friendly on Saturday, a game which will provide the coach a platform to assess his squad prior to taking on the Red Devils of Congo.

"The national team belongs to everybody and any player I feel is good enough to be on the national team will be selected for the national team. Seniority or time served will not be enough for anyone to be selected. They need to impress in the camp,” added Constantine.

Defender Salomon Nirisarike (Royal Antwerp-Belgium), midfielder Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga-Tanzania) and striker Dady Birori (AS Vita-DRC) are the only foreign based players summoned for the away match. The team reported to camp (Alpha Palace Hotel) last night and is scheduled to begin training today at Kigali Regional Stadium.

Commenting on why he left out Elias Uzamukunda (AS Cannes-France), Edwin Ouon (AEL Limassol-Cyprus)  and Mbuyu Twite (Yanga-France), Constantine said, "The players must want to come and play, if they don’t come and they are trying to find ABC reasons why they can’t come, it means they don’t want to come,”

"I want players who want to play for Rwanda. My focus is obviously on the next game but looking to the Chan tournament.  I can’t use players from outside anyway, so if they don’t want to come then that’s fine,” noted Constantine.

Gabon, ranked 89th and 23rd on the Fifa rankings already qualified to the group stages. They are placed in Group C alongside Burkina Faso, Angola and the winner who will progress between Lesotho and Kenya.

Rwanda will be banking on key striker Daddy Birori who now tops the goal scorer’s chart with three goals in this qualifying round to stage a good performance against Gabon who are expected in Kigali mid this week.

Rwanda will take on Congo in a confident mood having disposed Libya in the first round after a 3-0 win. Birori was the hat-trick hero as Amavubi stunned the Mediterranean Knights two months ago. The 27-year-old striker from Democratic Republic of Congo club Vita struck before halftime in Kigali and twice more within nine minutes midway through the second half.

His goals gave the ‘Wasps’ a 3-0 overall second-round triumph which ensured their progress to the second round where they face Congo Brazzaville for a Group A slot besides Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan.

The Red Devils of Congo also booked their place in grand style crushing Namibia 3-0 to qualify with 3-1 on aggregate.

Rwanda is seeking to end a 10-year absence at the Continental finals by qualifying for Morocco 2015 Nations Cup final.

Amavubi Provisional Squad:

Goal keepers: Jean Claude Ndoli (APR), Jean Luc Ndayishimiye (Rayon Sports), Emery Mvuyekure (AS Kigali) and Olivier Kwizera (APR)

Defenders: Michel Rusheshangoga (APR), Peter Kagabo (Police), Mwemere Girinshuti (AS Kigali), Abouba Sibomana (Rayon Sports), Emery Bayisenge (APR), Salomon Nirisarike (Royal Antwerp-Belgium), Ismael Nshutiyamagara (APR), James Tubane (AS Kigali), Hussein Sibomana (Rayon Sports)

Midfielders: Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga Africans-Tanzania), Jean Baptista Mugiraneza (APR), Leon Uwambazimana (Rayon Sports), Mohammed Mushimiyimana (AS Kigali), Andrew Buteera (APR), Robert Ndatimana (Rayon Sports), Jean Claude Iranzi (APR), Patrick Sibomana (APR), Abdoul Sibomana (Sec Academy), Jacques Tuyisenge (Police), Djamal Mwiseneza (Rayon Sports)

Strikers: Dady Birori (AS Vita-DRC), Michel Ndahinduka (APR), Jerome Sina (Police), Danny Usengimana (Sec Academy), Meddie Kagere (Rayon Sports) and Jimmy Mbaraga (AS Kigali).