Kalisa warns against complacency after Kenya win

After seeing off Kenya in the preliminary round of the 8th Africa U-17 championship qualifiers, the U-17s are now plotting for a replica show against Sudan.

This Saturday, the U-17 team is away to Sudan in the first round qualifiers and local soccer governing body Chief Executive officer Jules Kalisa knows that the youngsters are up for a crunch tie.

"This is a big game for the boys. Sudan is a big team with a good record in the region (Cecafa),” he conceded.

Rwanda qualified for the first round after a 4-3 goal aggregate cushion over Kenya but Kalisa has warned the U-17s not to rest on their Kenya laurels.

After being held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg that was held in Kigali, the U-17s sent the Kenyans packing after a humiliating 2-1 win in Nairobi.

However, with just two days left before the first leg qualifier, Kalisa has warned the team against complacency.
"Kenya is a closed chapter and this is a new challenge which we have to take very seriously.

"We know that we should have the same determination as we had in the preliminary round. We’ll come up against a tough rival who’ll be going all out to put on a good showing in front of their own fans,” he warned.

The squad has been training in Frankfurt, Germany for the past two weeks and is expected to fly to Addis Ababa tonight before connecting to Khartoum Tomorrow.

The game will be officiated by Eyob Emanuel of Eritrea.
Should Rwanda progress to the next stage, they will either play Tunisia or Eritrea in the second round qualifiers.

The 8th African U-17 Championship is set for next year in Algeria. 

Team- Heriman Ngoma, Jean Marie Rukundo, Patrick Rutayisire, Amani Uwiringiyimana, Annuar Daddy Kibaya, Djamar Mwiseneza, Ernest Kwizera, Christian Uwumukiza, Emery Mvuyekure, Bonfils Twahirwa, Michael Hitimana, James Tubane, Abdurkarim Gashugi, Emmanuel Sebanani, Jean d’Amour Uwimana, Ismaël Habumugisha, Jean Claude Iranzi and Emmanuel Habinshuti-Habimana
Michael Weiss (coach), Yves Rwasamanzi (assistant coach) Calliope Kabarisa (goal-keeping coach)

Officials: Boniface Nsabimana (delegation head), Alfred Ngarambe (Team manager).

Ends