AS Kigali head coach Eric Nshimiyimana has urged his players to step up their game for the upcoming continental football season, which starts next month, as they target to wrestle their way into the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup.

The competition is scheduled to start on the weekend of November 20-22, but draws for how and when teams will meet are yet take place.

The City of Kigali-sponsored side have been training since early this month and played two warmup matches against APR. Both games ended in 1-1 draws.

Nshimiyimana’s AS Kigali sealed their slot into Africa’s second-biggest club competition after this year’s Peace Cup was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Nyamirambo-based side were winners of the tournament’s 2019 edition.

"Our target is to reach the group stage, and then take it one round at a time. We have a good team, and the players have been working hard in training. Hopefully, we will be injury-free throughout the campaign,” said the former Rwanda international.

AS Kigali bowed out of the 2018/19 Confederation Cup from the first round, at the hands of Ugandan outfit Proline, after eliminating Tanzania’s KMC in the preliminary round.

The club’s hopes for their best performance in continental football has been boosted by the return of Pierrot Kwizera who spent the entire of last season on the sidelines due to injuries. The Burundian midfielder started training with the group this week.

After signing some of the biggest names in local football such as defender Emery Bayisenge and forwards Muhadjiri Hakizimana and Abeddy Biramahire, AS Kigali will also be looking to challenge for the Rwanda Premier League next season.

The domestic football season gets underway on December 4.