Rwanda’s U-17 national squad head coach Michael Weiss is confident his youth side will overcome Kenya to qualify to the first round of the African Championship qualifiers.

Rwanda U-17 team face Kenya in the second leg of the preliminary round of the Africa Under-17 Championship qualifier set for Saturday at Nyayo stadium in Nairobi.

Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, the German tactician said that the youth team will overcome the Kenyans to record a deserved victory which will ensure Rwanda’s participation in the first round of the African Championship.

"Playing to a 2-all draw at home in the first leg doesn’t mean that we have lost hope. My boys will win a victorious game away,” Weiss said, adding that the today’s national league fixtures may cause injuries.

"We need to play both defensive and an attacking game. But scoring first is top on the agenda,” Weiss added.

Rwanda has a mountain to climb in Nairobi after being held to a 2-all draw in Kigali in the first leg a fortnight ago. A goalless draw against the Kenyans on Saturday will see Rwanda exit from the African championships.

The 23-man team departs today aboard Kenya airways ahead of Saturday’s game. Sudanese referees will handle the match while the match commissioner is from Malawi.

Meanwhile, the Kenyans are prepared to lodge an official complaint to CAF should they suspect fielding of over-age players by Rwanda.

Kenya officially protested to the match commissioner before their first leg match claiming some players in the Rwanda team were overage.

But the protest was fruitless since the federation did not follow that up with an official written protest to CAF within 48 hours after the match.

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