Former U-17 national team (Junior Wasps) head coach, Richard Tardy has tipped Amavubi stars to emulate the U17 junior team feat when they reached the finals of the African Youth Championships in Kigali in 2011.

Tardy said the national team should replicate this performance in the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) which will start on Saturday in Rwanda.

Frenchman Tardy, who made history when he led the country’s U-17 team to the final of the African Youth Championships in Kigali in 2011, and subsequently to the U-17 FIFA World Cup finals in Mexico the same year, believes that the Amavubi stars can emulate that spirit and win the title.

In the U17 Africa Championships which were held in Rwanda, Rwanda went on to reach the final, but lost to Burkina Faso 2-1 in the finals.

"I wish the best for the team and success for the country in CHAN. I am far from Rwanda, but I still follow Rwandan football, and I hope that the team will do better than the U17 in 2011 by winning the Cup,” Tardy told Times Sport.

Tardy added that he is also happy and proud to see many young players who started with the junior national team, now playing for Amavubi.

"I hope CHAN will be a platform for some young players to show their qualities because I’m sure that many scouts are coming to Rwanda.”

The young players who have since graduated to the senior team include Michel Rusheshangoga, Célestin Ndayishimiye, Emery Bayisenge, Faustin Usengimana, Olivier Kwizera, Fitina Ombelenga, Djihad Bizimana and Yannick Mukunzi who played for Junior Wasps U20.

The national U-17 team was the first ever Rwandan football team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals. However, they were eliminated in the group stage after suffering defeats against England, Uruguay, and a draw against Canada.

Tardy currently coaches the U21 Singapore national team. He previously managed Super League Greece Club Aris Thessaloniki and the Lebanon national football team.

Rwanda reached the World Cup finals after ejecting Egypt 1-0 in the semi finals of the Africa Under-17 championship held in Kigali in January 2011.