Rwanda’s fixtures

Sept. 1Rwanda vs Angola

Sept. 2Algeria vs Rwanda

Sept. 3Rwanda vs DR Congo

Under-19 national women’s handball team depart today afternoon for the 19th edition of the African Junior Championships scheduled to run from August 31 to September 9 in Oyo, Congo Brazaville.

Rwanda will be making their maiden appearance in the African championships, eager to upset experienced opponents to qualify for next year’s world championships to be held in Brazil.

The team has been in residential training camp for  one month. Rwanda is drawn in Group A along with Algeria, DR Congo and Angola, who finished second in the edition held in Burkina Faso in 2011.

Hosts and title defenders Congo Brazaville are drawn in Group B with Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia and Mali.

The head coach Francois Xavier Ngarambe told Times Sport after the team’s last training session yesterday, "We have had enough preparations and hopefully we could go there and upset a few more experienced teams. It’s our first appearance but we’re confident.”

"Our major objective is to qualify for next year’s World Championships in Brazil,” he noted.

Rwanda will kick-off their bid for the continental title against Angola on September 1, take on Algeria on 2 and wrap-up the group stage against DR Congo on September 3.

The full 14-player squad:

Jennifer Uwimpaye, Aline Umugwaneza, Esther Dushimimana, Lucy Umuhoza, Louise Niyonsenga, Confiance Gatesi, Elizabeth Niyonizera, Pascasie Mukamana, Claudine Nyiransabimana, Valentine Nyirabizeyimana, Adeline Giramahoro, Apolinarie Umuhirewase, Irene Uwineza and Marie Rose Twumvikane.