Guy Rurangayire, the interim Director of Sports at the Ministry for Sports, has emphasised that Amahoro National Stadium is fit to host the final of the 2019/2020 CAF Champions League should the country win the bid.

Rwanda is one of the five candidates bidding for hosting rights, along with Morocco, Sudan, Egypt and Tunisia.

The final of the continent’s premier club competition is scheduled for May 29.

"There is no doubt Amahoro National Stadium is well-suited to host the Champions League final, a memorable final,” said Rurangayire, before adding that it would be a memorable experience for Rwanda and the people of Rwanda.  

Amahoro stadium is a multi-purpose facility, with a capacity of 30,000. Previously, it hosted big matches and tournaments on the continent such as the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON U-20) in 2009, the AFCON U-17 in 2011 as well as the 2016 African Nations Championship.

"Some people discredit Amahoro as unfit for big matches, I don’t agree with them. Our stadium has all the capacity to host matches of any calibre in Africa,” Rurangayire further noted.

Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), accompanied by his deputy Constant Omari and Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o, were in the country last weekend for an inspection visit.

The trio also met with President Paul Kagame on the margins of the 17th National Leadership Retreat (Umwiherero) in Gabiro.

Effective this year, the finals of the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup will be a single-match event at a neutral venue, bringing to an end the tournaments’ tradition of double-header (home and away) finals.

The 2019-20 Champions League competition is currently in the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finalists:

Al Ahly and Zamalek (Egypt), Étoile Sportive du Sahel and Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Raja Casablanca and Wydad (Morocco) as well as DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.