It was the national football team’s second 2016 CHAN game. The team had already bagged all three points in their first game – against the mighty Elephants of Ivory Coast on Saturday – and the ‘Intsinzi’ (victory) mood was sky-high.

Yesterday, that mood was evident both on the streets of Kigali and at the Amahoro National Stadium – hours before kick-off. From the Amavubi colours to the vuvulezas and the national flag clours on the streets and inside the country’s biggest arena, Rwandans of all walks of life were just keen to show their admiration and support for the surging Amavubi (Kinyarwanda for ‘Wasps’).

Thousands were inside the 25,000-seat stadium as early as 11a.m, four hours ahead of the kick-off between Rwanda and Gabon.

The First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Senate president Bernard Makuza, Sports and Culture minister Julienne Uwacu, were among senior leaders that turn up to cheer on the team as they sought to become the first team in the tournament to qualify for the quarter-finals.

In a way, Rwanda hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN) is in itself history because it’s the first East African country to host the biennial tournament — the second largest showpiece on the continent.

But, if the team’s performance in the last two games is anything to go by, the nation is rightly starting to dream big.

Against Gabon yesterday, the wasps replicated the form that saw then sting the Elephants on Saturday 1-0 – to the delight of the nation.

"When the President opened the 2016 CHAN – just ahead of the Rwanda-Ivory Coast match on Saturday – it’s as if he officially unveiled the talent of our players. I can’t believe how passionate and composed the Amavubi players are,” said Yannick Iyamuremye, a fan from Kimironko, a Kigali suburb.

Well, in the end the players did not disappoint the faith of their adoring fans; Amavubi or Wasps indeed stung the Panthers of Gabon 2-1, thanks to Ernest Sugira’s brace.

And the rest is history.

"I have never seen Amavubi play such a beautiful game. They showed composure, passion and confidence,” Anthony Rwivanga, another fan, said shortly after the game.

"After the victories over Ivory Coast and Gabon, I think it’s high time we, the fans, realised that our team is capable of anything. I can now proudly walk back home,” said Celestin Uzamukunda.

Some fans believe Amavubi would have scored more than two goals had they taken their chances well and pressed hard in the second half.

"We didn’t attack enough… Nonetheless, I am happy because we won and are through to quarterfinals,” said Hilary Butera.

Players believe that the two consecutive victories were made possible by the immense support from the fans across the country.

Goals scorer Sugira said the team’s target is to reach the final. "We owe the victories to our fans; they possibly didn’t believe we could make it thus far because we are a young side but, still, they have supported us all through and we are doing our best to reach the final of the tournament,” Sugira said.

Yannick Mukunzi, the ‘midfield general’ of the national team, said that, "the mood in the camp is so high, we are all excited and working hard to reach the final”.

"President Kagame was in the stadium for the opening match; today we saw the First Lady and many other high-ranking government officials behind the team. It means a lot to us, we want to make the country proud,” Mukunzi said.

Amavubi will play against Morocco on Sunday, and remain the only side to have already qualified for the knock-out stages – with a game to spare.

Yesterday’s win also means that Amavubi will finish top of Group A, with Ivory Coast whom they beat in the opening game bagging all three points at the expense of Morrocco last evening.

Head-to-head rule guarantees Rwanda the top spot even if the Elephants win their last group game, against Gabon, and Amavubi lose to Morrocco.

In the quarter-finals, on January 30, Rwanda will come up against the team that will finish second in Group B, composed of DR Congo, Angola, Cameroon or Ethiopia.

DR Congo are the current leaders of Group B having beaten Ethiopia 3-0 on Monday and one of the favourites to win the tournament. They lost 1-0 to Rwanda in a friendly at Umuganda stadium a few days before the tournament.

Rwanda will avoid DR Congo if the latter go on to top their group, but the Amavubi will still have to face another powerhouse in either Angola or Cameroon, who are likely to finish above Ethiopia.

Rwanda drew 1-1 against Cameroon in another friendly just before the tournament.

Nonetheless, to many fans, recent Amavubi performances and accompanying results suggest that the national team, which finished first runners-up at the regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, staged in Ethiopia late last year, can go all the way.

The fans will hope the national football team stings their way to the ultimate prize – CHAN trophy!

editorial@newtimes.co.rw