Sunday Rwanda vs Morocco 3:30pmFriday Rwanda 2-0 Morocco

Rwanda national football team head coach Antoine Hey has praised his players after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the first game of the 2017 Genocide Memorial Tournament played on Friday evening at Amahoro National Stadium.

Rwanda’s starting line-up, composed of home-based players opened the score sheet in the 30th minute through midfielder Djihad Bizimana’s penalty kick, after defender Komh Nour-Eddine fouled striker Justin Mico in the forbidden area.

The second goal was scored by Police FC striker Danny Usengimana in the 65th minute off a cross from defender Michel Rusheshangoga, who was the captain of the day. Skipper Haruna Niyonzima started on the bench.

One of the tactical changes that Hey has introduced is playing with three at the back and using wing back. The coach said that his players did good job.

"I am happy with the way the players applied themselves on the field. It is new staff, new players and we introduced a new system of playing and they have done what I wanted, so I am very happy and I am looking forward to the next match on Sunday,” the German tactician said after Friday’s game.

He added, "The back three played fantastic while midfielders dominated the game and for the strikers, I am happy because (Justin) Mico created a chance that resulted in the first goal, while Dany (Usengimana) scored a goal.”

The second game will be staged on Sunday, also at Amahoro National Stadium and it is expected that Hey could start with the team that will face Central Africa Republic next weekend.

The matches are held as part of the Genocide Memorial tournament to remember football players, fans, administrators and other Rwandans who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Hey is also using the matches to assess the level of his players ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic, which will be played on June 11 in Bangue.

Rwanda was drawn in Group H for AFCON 2019 along with Ivory Coast, Guinea and Central African Republic. Amavubi are seeking to qualify for Africa’s biggest football competition for the second time having debuted at the 2004 Finals tournament in Tunisia.

The winner of each group alongside the best three second-placed teams will qualify for the 2019 finals tournament in Cameroon.

Eight of the nine professional players have already joined Amavubi training camp—they include; central defenders Emery Bayisenge, who plies his trade with Morocco side KAC Kénitra and Salomon Nirisarike (AFC Tubize, Belgium), midfielders Niyonzima (Yanga, Tanzania) and Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (Gor Mahia, Kenya) and striker Jacques Tuyisenge (Gor Mahia FC, Kenya).

Others are; Fitina Ombalenga, Iranzi Jean Claude and Rachid Kalisa, all featuring for MFK Topvar Topoľčany in Slovakia. They arrived in camp at Golden Tulip Nyamata last night.

AS Vita striker Ernest Sugira will be the last to join the Amavubi camp on Monday after club engagements with his side AS Vita Club of DR Congo against St. George of Ethiopia in the CAF Champions League group match on Sunday in Addis Ababa.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw