September 3

Group HGhana vs RwandaMozambique vs Mauritius

The national football team interim head coach Jimmy Mulisa has spoken out for the first time since he was appointed on Tuesday. Mulisa said that his priority will be putting the team in shape ahead of the final Group H AfCON 2017 qualifier against Ghana scheduled for September 3 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Speaking to the media after presiding over the second training session on Thursday morning, Mulisa revealed that because the local season is still off, the players’ fitness levels are inevitably low, something he said he wants to focus on in the first few days.

"So far the training is going on pretty well but the main focus right now is to increase the intensity and physical fitness, the level of fitness is low among the players and that is why we are doing three sessions a day in order to try to get the desired (fitness) levels as soon as possible,” said Mulisa.

Amavubi started training on Wednesday at Kigali Regional Stadium in Nyamirambo under the tutelage of Mulisa and his assistant Vincent Mashami, with Thomas Higiro as the goalkeeping coach after replacing Ibrahim Mugisha, who resigned on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the former Rwanda forward has added another four players to the 26 man squad that had earlier been summoned in residential camp at La Palisse Hotel in Nyandungu.

The quartet includes; APR’s left winger and attacking midfielder Innocent Habyarimana and Fiston Nkizingabo, AS Kigali central defender Soter Kayumba and Police FC goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora.

Regarding the ‘late’ inclusion of the four players, Mulisa noted that: "All of them are good players and we hope they can boost our preparations and we can probably use them for the game.”

Tanzania based-duo of Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (Azam FC) and skipper Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga) as well as Kenya’s Gor Mahia striker Jacques Tuyisenge are expected in the country on Saturday to join their teammates.

Despite being out of contention for a place at the finals tournament to be held in Gabon, the Amavubi will be aiming for a positive result against the Black Stars in a bid to improve their FIFA rankings.

Rwanda are currently ranked 121st in the latest ranking while Ghana is 35th and second in Africa, behind Algeria (32).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw