AYC Qualifier

Sunday, 3.30pmRwanda vs. MaliTHE U-20 Junior Wasps have gained compact confidence and believe they are in a good position to win their second round clash against Mali in the qualifier for the 2013 Africa Youth Championship due this Sunday at Stade Regional de Kigali.The team defeated Nigeria’s U-20 1-0 in a warm-up game on Tuesday at the Stade Regional de Kigali.The Nigerian youth team had several chances to put this game away, but they failed to take them before a loss of concentration five minutes from time allowed France-based striker Bonfils Kabanda to make hay.Head coach Richard Tardy said, "This was a good game and I am happy for the team and individual performance of every player,”"This result will raise the team’s confidence and I believe we have a good chance against Mali”."We are going to polish the mistakes such that we can come out strongly in Sunday’s qualifier against Mali,” added Tardy.Flying Eagles coach John Samuel Obuh also praised the junior wasps. "If they can maintain the kind of performance they gave us, then I have no doubt that they will defeat Mali”.Rwanda, who recently defeated Tanzania twice away from home 2-0 and 2-1, are likely to miss the services of midfielder Eric Nsabimana and central defender Faustin Usengimana who were injured in the friendly match against Nigeria.Meanwhile, Mali’s U-20 team arrives on Friday at 2.00am aboard Ethiopian Airways. They will be accommodated at Umubano Hotel.In the first qualifying round, Rwanda proved too strong for Namibia, after knocking out the latter 4-1 on aggregates.The winner between Rwanda and Mali over two legs will play Zambia in the third and final qualifying round later this year.Algeria are the hosts of the 2013 AYC and seven teams are expected to reach the championship next year after two-legged games are concluded in August.