The Amavubi Stars may not be one of the continent’s football powerhouses, but over time they have proven more than capable against some of the continent’s top teams like Nigeria and Ghana when they play in front of their fans at Amahoro Stadium.

While Amavubi are at the bottom of Group Two with just a point, thanks to a goalless draw in their opening game at home against Algeria in March, the team should not be counted out, as it has proven capable on several occasions when they have been written off.

Today the team can make Rwanda proud by beating Zambia to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time.  

In qualifying for this stage the team surpassed all expectations with the successes among them against Morocco. And they should take inspiration from the past impressive performances in the previous stage.     

Rwanda’s target now is qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and this, they can achieve today with only a 2-0 win against Zambia.

In football, home advantage is a critical factor and it is no secret that Amavubi are ready to pounce on the advantage as they seek revenge for their 1-0 first leg defeat in Zambia.

The team will be looking to players like Jimmy Gatete, Hamad Ndikumana and Olivier Karekezi to win the game.

There is no doubt that the trio still stand out as the country’s all-time leading performers. The veteran Gatete, who has scored some very important goals for Rwanda in the past, seems to have returned to his best form after scoring in last month’s international friendly against Tanzania.

Rwanda qualified for the Nations Cup finals for the first time ever with a sensational Gatete goal over Ghana in Kigali in 2004 and today is the chance for him to enter record books once again.  

With all the support,  the team can relive the memories of 2004.

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