Amavubi to face DRC in quarter-finals

Hosts Rwanda will take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first quarter-final match of the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium, kick-off at 3pm, while Cameroon will face Ivory Coast at Huye Stadium at 6pm.

Monday, January 25, 2016
Cameroon's Yazid Atouba vies for the ball against DR Congo's Franck Mfuki during the final Group A match at Huye stadium. (Courtesy)

Quarter-finals

Saturday

Rwanda vs DR Congo 3pmCameroon vs Ivory Coast 6pm

Hosts Rwanda will take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first quarter-final match of the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium, kick-off at 3pm, while Cameroon will face Ivory Coast at Huye Stadium at 6pm.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Cameroon beat DR Congo 3-1 at Huye Stadium to lead the group with seven points after two wins and a draw while DRC finished in second position with six points.

In the other game, Angola beat Ethiopia 2-1 at Amahoro stadium to finish third—Ethiopia go home with a solitary point gained from a goalless draw with Cameroon.

It will be the third meeting between Rwanda and DR Congo in recent years— Amavubi won both, the first (1-0) win dating back in 2004 at the CAF African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia, thanks to Said Abedi Makasi.

Rwanda’s second win (1-0) over their neighbours, came just over two weeks ago in a CHAN 2016 warm-up game played at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu District. The lone goal was scored by skipper, Jacques Tuyisenge.

McKinstry, 30, who is the first man to guide Rwanda to the knockout stages of a major tournament, is confident that his side can eliminate DRC, who won the first CHAN edition in 2009.

"We are going to prepare for the match, and we believe that we can beat team. We are confident that we can proceed in the next stage,” McKinstry said after a weakened Amavubi side lost 4-1 to Morocco in their final group game on Sunday.

Cameroon will face Ivory Coast, who finished in second position in Group A behind Rwanda.

Angola came out on top in their dead rubber clash against Ethiopia, thanks to Manuel Afonso’s brace in the 54th and 73rd minutes respectively, while Seyoum Tesfaye scored the lone goal for Ethiopia.

Table standing

Team                           PD     W     D     L    Pts

Cameroon                    3        2     1      0      7DR Congo                    3        2     0      1      6Angola                          3        1     0      2      3Ethiopia                        3        0     1      2      1

editorial@newtimes.co.rw