Senegal national team ‘Lions of Teranga’ were left speechless and heartbroken after visiting the Gisozi Genocide Memorial in Nyarugenge District on Monday afternoon. 

The Senegalese team, led by their coach paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The team was showed around the memorial site where remains of 250,000 victims of the Genocide were laid to rest.

"We are deeply touched and speechless after seeing and hearing what happened here in Rwanda. However, it should be a lesson for us never to allow it happen again anywhere in the world,” said head coach Aliou CisséCissé noted that many of his players were born between 1990 and 1994 and probably the little they knew about the Genocide was through the media.

"I think having the opportunity to visit and see the magnitude of this tragedy, will enable them to spread peace elsewhere,” he added

The team has been in Rwanda since May 22 for a training camp before heading to Bujumbura for their Group K Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Burundi on June 4.

While in Rwanda, the Lions of Teranga also played a friendly with Amavubi stars who are also preparing for their Group H AFCON 2017 qualifier against Mozambique set for June 4 in Kigali. Senegal won the game 2-0, and is scheduled to travel to Bujumbura later today.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw