First round

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The Rwandan national U-20 team head coach, Jean Baptiste Kayiranga has named a 26-man squad to face Uganda in the first round of the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifiers.

The Junior Wasps will host Uganda in the first leg on April 2, at Kigali Regional Stadium before the return leg on April 23 in Kampala.

The team starts residential training on Tuesday at La Palisse Hotel Nyandungu. Kayiranga will be assisted by Vincent Mashami and goalkeeper coach Thomas Higiro. The team will use the FERWAFA turf as training base until next week when they will shift to Kigali Regional Stadium.

The 26-man team includes Marines forward Blaise Itangishaka, SC Kiyovu pair of goalie Bonheur Hategekimana; forward Salum Yamini, Rayon Sports impressive midfielders Jabel Imanishimwe and Kevin Muhire, among others.

This is the third year in a row that Rwanda is facing Uganda in AFCON qualifiers. Last year, Uganda eliminated Rwanda 4-1 on aggregate score in U23 AFCON qualifiers while two years ago Rwanda also lost 4-0 on aggregate to Uganda in U17 AFCON qualifiers.

Should Rwanda eliminate Uganda, they will play the second round, first-leg round slated for the weekend of May 20-22 and the second-leg matches coming three weeks later. If they proceed, Kayiranga’s boys will progress in final round of qualifiers scheduled for July.

In the last edition, Rwanda was eliminated in the second round by Gabon.

Meanwhile, DR Congo has pulled out of the qualifiers and Burundi received a bye to the second round where they meet record seven-time African champions Nigeria in the U-20 Afcon.

Rwanda U20 Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Bonheur Hategekimana (SC Kiyovu), Djihad Nzeyurwanda (Isonga) and Jean Paul Itangishaka (Sunrise).

Defenders: Amani Niyonkuru (Bugesera), Jean d’Amour Ngiruwonsanga (AS Muhanga), Patrick Ndikumana (Rwamagana City), Ange Mutsinzi (AS Muhanga), Aimable Nsabimana (Marines), Ewing Ndagijimana (Etincelles), Djuma Mutuyimana (La Jeunesse) and Felix Ngabo (Rwamagana City), Jean Paul Ahoyikuye (Nyagatare) and Daniel Nsengiyumva (Miroplast).

Midfielders: Freddy Mucyo (AS Muhanga), Jean Baptiste Rugamba (Vision FC), Aimee Ntirushwa (Interforce) and Kevin Muhire (Rayon Sports)

Forwards: Blaise Itangishaka (Marines), Arafat Sibomana (Amagaju), Salum Yamini (SC Kiyovu), Jabel Imanishimwe (Rayon Sports), Danny Niyongira (Interforce), Eric Mbonigena (Bugesera), Gonzalez Rutinywa (AS Muhanga), Shuklan Ndabaramiye (Vision) and Christian Bizimana (Pepiniere).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw