Johnny McKinstry sacked as Rwanda head coach

Amavubi head coach Johnny Mckinstry has been sacked following a dismal run of results.

Thursday, August 18, 2016
Peter Kamasa
McKinstry on the touchline during the first leg of the 2017 Group H AfCON qualifier against Ghana at Amahoro stadium, which Rwanda lost 1-0. (File photo)

Amavubi head coach Johnny Mckinstry has been sacked following a dismal run of results.

The decision was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture Lt Col Patrice Rugambwa.

McKinstry applauds the fans after the 1-0 home defeat to Ghana in an AfCON qualifier in September last year. He had extended his contract until 2018 in May this year.

McKinstry, 30, had signed a contract extension in May, just over a year after he took over the Amavubi job in February 2015 replacing Briton Stephen Constantine in January 2015.

"We have taken a decision to relieve him of his duties after assessing the performance of the national team, including the team’s continued dropping in FIFA rankings," Rugambwa said this morning, adding that the decision had just been taken in a meeting and duly communicated to McKinstry.

McKinstry shakes hands with Ghana head coach Avram Grant (L) before kickoff at Amahoro Stadium last September. Ghana won the game 1-0, thanks to Wakaso Mubarak's free-kick in stoppage time.

Under McKinstry, a former Sierra Leone head coach, the Amavubi declined in the FIFA/Coca-Cola rankings, coming in a lowly 121st in the latest ranking released earlier this month.

He took over the Amavubi job when the team was ranked 68th globally, the country’s highest ever ranking.

McKinstry also leaves after seeing Amavubi fail to qualify for the 2017 African Nations finals, having lost 2-3 to Mozambique in Kigali in their latest qualifier in June, in addition to earlier 1-0 defeats to visitors Ghana and hosts Mauritius.

McKinstry speaks to Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima during the 3-2 home defeat to Mozambique in the Group H 2017 AfCON qualifier in June. File.

Mckinstry’s record in 25 games

29/03/2015    (FIFA Friendly)    Zambia    2-0    Rwanda

06/06/2015    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    0-0    Kenya

07/06/2015    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    2-0    Tanzania

14/06/2015    CAF Nations Cup Qual    Mozambique    0-1    Rwanda

28/08/2015    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    3-1    Ethiopia

05/09/2015    CAF Nations Cup Qual    Rwanda    0-1    Ghana

12/09/2015    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    0-1    Gabon

13/11/2015    FIFA World Cup Qual    Libya    1-0    Rwanda

17/11/2015    FIFA World Cup Qual    Rwanda    1-3    Libya

21/11/2015    CECAFA Cup    Ethiopia    0-1    Rwanda

24/11/2014    CECAFA Cup    Rwanda    1-2    Tanzania

27/11/2015    CECAFA Cup    Rwanda    3-0    Somalia

01/12/2015    CECAFA Cup QF    Rwanda    0-0 (5-3p)    Kenya

03/12/2015    CECAFA Cup SF    Rwanda    1-1 (4-2p)    Sudan

05/12/2015    CECAFA Cup F    Uganda    1-0    Rwanda

06/01/2016    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    1-1    Cameroon

10/01/2016    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    1-0    DR Congo16/01/2016    CAF Nations Championship    Rwanda    1-0    Ivory Coast

20/01/2016    CAF Nations Championship    Rwanda    2-1    Gabon

24/01/2016    CAF Nations Championship    Morocco    4-1    Rwanda

30/01/2016    CAF Nations Championship QF    Rwanda    1-1 (1-2et)    DR Congo

26/03/2016    CAF Nations Cup Qual    Mauritius    1-0    Rwanda

29/03/2016    CAF Nations Cup Qual    Rwanda    5-0    Mauritius

28/05/2016    FIFA Friendly    Rwanda    0-2    Senegal

04/06/2016    CAF Nations Cup Qualification    Rwanda    2-3    Mozambique.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw
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