RWANDA’s U-20 team has resumed training ahead of the return leg of Africa Youth Championship qualifier against Mali slated for August 11 in Bamako.
RWANDA’s U-20 team has resumed training ahead of the return leg of Africa Youth Championship qualifier against Mali slated for August 11 in Bamako.The team, which was given a short break after Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Mali, resumed training yesterday at Amahoro stadium. According to head coach Richard Tardy, the team is training twice a day in buildup to the qualifier. The Frenchman has been boosted with the return of skipper Emery Bayisenge who suffered a minor knock on Sunday.Belgium-based defender Salomon Nirisarike (Antweerp) is also expected to jet in on Monday next week before the team departs for Bamako two days later.Despite the victory, Tardy insists the tie is far from over and has cautioned his charges ahead of the return encounter."The first leg result is not enough for us and we will continue to work harder and harder. We believe Mali has a strong team”.Rwanda heads into the second leg with a slight advantage.The winner between Rwanda and Mali will play Zambia in the third and final qualifying round.Meanwhile, Angola and Nigeria are well placed to reach the last round of the qualifiers of the 2013 Orange African Youth Championships after convincing wins in the first leg.Nigeria, the defending champions, and Angola were the only teams that recorded away wins during the first leg matches of the second round qualifier. The Hippos of Uganda pulled up one of the shocking results of the weekend qualifiers, coming from behind to beat the Black Satellites of Ghana 3-1. The second leg matches will take place on the weekend of 10-12 August.Meanwhile, the Benin-Côte d’Ivoire game has been fixed for August 5.