Today

Burundi vs Zanzibar 4pmEthiopia vs Rwanda 6pm

The Rwanda national football team start the quest for the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup title which has elluded them for 16 years, when they face hosts Ethiopia in Group A at Yidnekachew Tessema Stadium at 6pm today.

The 38th edition of Africa’s oldest football tournament will run through December 5—in the Ethiopian cities of Awassa and Bahir Dar.

As Johnny McKinstry’s Amavubi Stars begin their campaign in Group A against hosts Ethiopia, Burundi will also be facing Zanzibar in Group B today as well.

Rwanda last won the regional competition in 1999 after Rwanda B defeated Kenya 3-1 at Amahoro national stadium.

Three months ago, Rwanda and Ethiopia faced off in a FIFA international friendly match at Amahoro stadium in Kigali, which ended 3-1 in favour of McKinstry’s men.

Amavubi Stars departed for Ethiopia on Friday after a disappointing exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at hands of Libya on Tuesday. In Ethiopia the team will be hoping to end a six-match losing streak that stretch since early September.

The 23-man Amavubi Stars squad and staff were initially supposed to travel on Thursday night but the flight was moved to Friday afternoon at 4:50pm. Before setting-off, the team held a training session on Friday morning at Amahoro stadium.

Rwanda lost 1-0 to Ghana in 2017 AFCON qualifiers in Kigali, the team went on to suffer a series of defeats back-to-back including 1-0 to Gabon, 1-0 to Burkina Faso and 1-0 to Tunisia U23 before losing to Libya 1-0 on November 13 in Tunisia and 3-1 this Tuesday in Kigali.

Before the team’s departure on Friday, McKinstry, 30, admitted to the current Amavubi’s poor run before noting that CECAFA is an opportunity for the national team to bounce back from what has been a disappointing week.

"This tournament (CECAFA) is a good opportunity for the team; no one more than players and staff wants to rectify the present situation. Group matches against Ethiopia, Tanzania and Somalia provide us a chance to do things right,” McKinstry said.

He added, "The competition will also serve as preparations for CHAN and in doing so, we should ensure some of the young and upcoming players in the squad are given playing time to prove themselves.”

The Northern Irishman, under immense pressure after a return of just three wins in 16 matches since he took charge in March, noted that selection for the CHAN squad will be largely based on players’ performance in CECAFA.

Amavubi unlucky in CECAFA

The last 15 years have not been kind to Amavubi Stars, who have reached the final on five occasions, but failed to win the tournament on either of them, losing thrice to Uganda Cranes (2003, 2009 and 2011), once to Ethiopia (2005) and Sudan in 2007.

At the 37th edition hosted and won by Kenya in 2013, Rwanda was beaten 1-0 by eventual champions Kenya in quarter-finals. Last year, the tournament was not held after Ethiopia declined to host the show citing financial constraints.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) was affiliated to CAF in 1973 but Rwanda had to wait until 1999 to be recognized as a full member.

This year’s meet has attracted a total of 12 countries drawn in three groups. Pool B includes holders Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Zanzibar while

Pool C is comprised of Sudan, Malawi, Sudan and Djibouti.

Uganda is the most successful country in CECAFA history, they have won the competition 13 times followed by Kenya with six.

Pools:

Group A: Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and SomaliaGroup B: Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and ZanzibarGroup C: Sudan, Malawi, South Sudan and Djibouti

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Past winners since 1999

1999: Rwanda B2000: Uganda2001: Ethiopia2002: Kenya2003: Uganda2004: Ethiopia2005: Ethiopia2006: Sudan

2007: Sudan2008: Uganda2009: Uganda2010: Tanzania2011: Uganda2012: Uganda2013: Kenya2015: ???

editorial@newtimes.co.rw