Amavubi in buoyant mood ahead of CHAN

Amavubi are confident that they will get a good result in the upcoming Africa National Championships (CHAN) slated forJanuary 16 to February 7 next month in Rwanda.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Amavubi coach Johnny Mckinstry takes players through training drills recently. (File)

Amavubi are confident that they will get a good result in the upcoming Africa National Championships (CHAN) slated forJanuary 16 to February 7 next month in Rwanda.

The national team goalie, Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye has said that Amavubi will post a good performance in CHAN.

"We are 32 players in camp and in high spirits ahead of the tourney. We are preparing well and every one of us looks good. There is no player who will complain that he was not given a chance to prove himself. The coach has given each one of us a chance o impress before the final team is named ahead of CHAN,” the Rayon Sports skipper said.

The national football team will also play two friendly matches against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on January 6 and Tunisia on January 10 as part of the final preparations in the build up to the event. Both matches will be played at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu District.

On Monday, Amavubi entered residential camp in Rubavu at Stipp Hotel and the team will be training two times a day at Umuganda stadium.

Record of Amavubi against group opponents in CHAN

Amavubi has a good track record against Morocco having drawn one game, lost one and won on three occasions when the two countries have met.  On June 14, 2008, Rwanda beat Morocco 3-1 in FIFA World Cup, on June 21, 2008; Morocco beat Rwanda 2-0 in the return leg in FIFA World Cup, while on November, 14, 2014. Morocco and Rwanda played out a goalless draw.

Amavubi goalie Eric 'Bakame' Ndayishimiye.

Rwanda have beaten Gabon three times and also lost three times to the same team in the past encounters.

But Rwanda has a bad record against Ivory Coast compared to other group teams. It has won two games and lost four in all past encounters against Ivory Coast.

The last time Rwanda faced Ivory Coast was in 2011during the African Nations Cup in which Amavubi were hammered 5-0 at Amahoro stadium in group stages of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup while Gabon beat Rwanda 1-0 this year in friendly game at Amahoro Stadium.

Rwanda has a good record against Morocco as way back in 2008; Rwanda thrashed Morocco 3-1in FIFA World Cup before Morocco beat Rwanda 2-0 in return leg.

Rwanda will play all their matches at Amahoro National Stadium in Group A, the Kigali Regional stadium will host Group C which has Nigeria, Niger,

Tunisia and Guinea. Group B has Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia and Angola and will be based at Huye stadium, while the Group D matches which will be played at Umuganda Stadium will include Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mali.