Rwanda coach Johnny McKinstry has said his major target now is to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which will be held in Gabon.

McKinstry said though Amavubi are in second position in the Group H behind Ghana, they will work hard to win the two games against Mauritius next month.

Rwanda will visit Mauritius on the weekend of March 23-26 before both teams meet again four days later in Kigali.

McKinstry’s team will also play at home against Mozambique on the weekend of June 3-5 before finishing their qualifying battle against Ghana on September 2-4.

"I am happy that my players have gained a lot from the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and the 2016 CHAN tournament as we prepare for the AFCON qualifiers,” the 30-year-old said.

The Amavubi are expected to regroup this month to start preparations for the AFCON qualifier ties in March.

Rwanda beat Mozambique 1-0 in the opening match on June 14, 2015 away in Maputo before losing against Ghana 1-0 in Kigali.

McKinstry said that qualifying for the 2017 AFCON would be one of the best things that would turn the country’s football around, since Rwanda last qualified for 2004 finals in Tunisia.

Ghana lead the group with six points, three ahead of second-placed Rwanda, and Mauritius, who lie in third place on goal difference while Mozambique are without a point.

Rwanda lost 2-1 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-final of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament. In the group stage they beat Ivory Coast 1-0 and Gabon 2-1 before falling 4-1 to Morocco.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw