Sept. 3

Group H

Ghana vs Rwanda

Mozambique vs Mauritius

INTERIM Amavubi coach Gilbert Yaoundé Kanyankore has summoned six new players to the national team that will face Ghana in Group H fixture of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 3.

Among them is AS Kigali defender Eric Iradukunda, central defender Aimable Nsabimana (APR), forward Fiston Nkizingabo (APR), midfielder Olivier Niyonzima (Rayon Sports) and striker Onesme Twizeyimana who recently joined APR FC from AS Kigali.

APR midfielder Andrew Buteera returns to the senior team for the first time after a year in the cold. Kanyankore, who replaced the Northern Irishman Johnny McKinstry, will be assisted by Eric Nshimiyimana and Jimmy Mulisa.

The 26-man squad will enter camp at La Palisse Hotel Nyandungu on Wednesday morning ahead of the training sessions set to begin later in the afternoon at Amahoro National Stadium. League champions APR FC has 11 players on the team.

The coach has also summoned four foreign-based players including; Tanzanian based-duo of Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (Azam FC) and skipper Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga).

The others are strikers Jacques Tuyisenge (Gor Mahia) and Ernest Sugira (AS Vita, DR Congo); they will join the rest of the team on Saturday.

Under McKinstry, Rwanda failed to book a place in 2017 Africa Nations’ Cup final due to be held in Gabon but Kanyankore will be aiming for a win against Ghana in a bid to improve the team’s Fifa rankings with Amavubi now in a lowly 121st position. Rwanda blew their chance to finish among the best two second-placed teams in the group when they lost 1-0 to Mauritius in Belle Vue in March before going down 3-2 at home against Mozambique in June.

The Black Stars lead Group H with13 points, having already booked a place in the finals tournament. Rwanda is in second place with six points along with Mauritius, while Mozambique are fourth with four points.

Amavubi provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Eric Ndayishimiye (Rayon Sports), Jean Claude Ndoli (AS Kigali) and Bonheur Hategikimana (SC Kiyovu)

Defenders: Michel Rusheshangoga (APR FC), Eric Iradukunda (AS Kigali), Emmanuel Imanishimwe (APR FC), Celestin Ndayishimiye (Police FC), Herve Rugwiro (APR FC), Faustin Usengimana (APR FC), Thierry Manzi (Rayon Sports) and Aimable Nsabimana (APR FC).

Midfielders: Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (Azam FC), Yannick Mukunzi (APR FC), Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga), Muhadjiri Hakizimana (APR FC), Andrew Buteera (APR FC), Djihad Bizimana (APR FC), Dominique Savio Nshuti (Rayon Sports), Fiston Nkizingabo (APR FC), Yussuf Habimana (Mukura VS), Olivier Niyonzima (Rayon Sports) and Ally Niyonzima (Mukura VS).

Strikers: Onesme Twizeyimana (APR FC), Danny Usengimana (Police FC), Ernest Sugira (AS Vita) and Jacques Tuyisenge (Gor Mahia).