Saturday 

Final

Rwanda vs Uganda 3:45pm

Third place play-off

Sudan vs Ethiopia 12:45pm

Rwanda national football team, Amavubi Stars, take on the Uganda Cranes as they bid to win their second CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup title on Saturday at the Addis Ababa National Stadium in Ethiopia.

Amavubi players will not have any excuses as they seek revenge against Uganda, who have come out on top in all the three previous meetings in the final – in 2001, 2003 and 2009 – of the regional tournament.

Northern Irishman tactician Johnny McKinstry will be up against former Rwanda Serb coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, who will also be looking for his own dose of revenge following his sacking one year into his two-year contract in April 2013.

The Amavubi coach said his team was looking forward to the final and praised his players’ mentality, especially during spot kicks – Rwanda reached both the semi-final and final after penalty shootout victories.

McKinstry said, "We have taken nine penalties at this tournament and scored them all. The players are showing great focus and concentration during such important moments.”

He praised goalkeeper Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye for his heroics in the tournament, with the veteran custodian having saved a penalty in each of the previous two matches – first against Kenya and then Sudan.

"And all credit to goalkeeper Eric, who again made a vital save to help us win,” McKinstry said in reference to Thursday’s first semifinal game that pitted Rwanda against Sudan.

A couple of current Amavubi players, including Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Ndayishimiye, Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Claude Iranzi and skipper Haruna Niyonzima were part of the Amavubi side that lost 2-0 against Uganda in the 2009 CECAFA final in Nairobi – the latest of the three defeats the Uganda Cranes have afflicted on Amavubi in the final.

Rwanda advanced to the final of this year’s edition after beating Sudan 4-2 in post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of action, while the Cranes, chasing a record-extending 14 regional title, eliminated hosts Ethiopia 5-3 also on penalties.

On paper, Uganda will go into Saturday’s final as clear favourites. Nonetheless, matches involving the two arch-rivals have been too close to call over the last years.

Hosts Ethiopia will take on Sudan in the third place play-off match.

Cranes coach Micho was quoted by Uganda’s New Vision newspaper, saying that, "We need to keep it cool and prepare well to face Rwanda.” The 46-year-old Serbian tactician said he wanted his boys to remain focused.

Should Amavubi return home with the trophy, it would be a huge boost for McKinstry’s side who are preparing for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) due in Rwanda from January 16 through February 7.

Head-to-head:

Uganda and Rwanda have played 29 times in all competitions. Uganda has won 15 times against Rwanda’s 8 wins while they have drawn 6 times.

Amavubi unlucky in CECAFA?

The last 15 years have not been kind to Amavubi Stars as far as CECAFA is concerned. During that period Rwanda have reached the final on five occasions but failed to win any of them – losing three times 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 showpiece citing financial constraints.

The Council of Eastern and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) became a CAF affiliate in 1973 with Rwanda earning full membership status in 1999, the last time the country lifted the regional title – courtesy of a Rwanda B side.

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

Past winners since 1999

1999: Rwanda B2000: Uganda2001: Ethiopia2002: Kenya2003: Uganda2004: Ethiopia2005: Ethiopia2006: Sudan2007: Sudan2008: Uganda2009: Uganda2010: Tanzania2011: Uganda2012: Uganda2013: Kenya2015: ???

editorial@newtimes.co.rw