Amavubi seek to end dismal away record

Today Group HMozambique vs Rwanda - 3pm, SS3 Ghana vs Mauritius - 5:30pm, SS3Ethiopia vs Lesotho - 3pmTogo vs Liberia - 3:30pmCameroon vs Mauritania - 4pmDR Congo vs Madagascar - 4:30pmCongo vs Kenya Eq. Guinea vs Benin - 5pmNiger vs Namibia Ghana vs Mauritius - 5:30pmEgypt vs Tanzania - 7pmGabon vs Ivory Coast Sudan vs Sierra Leone Rwanda will be hoping to register a positive result when they face Mozambique this afternoon in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying opener at the Estadio Nacional de Zimpeto in Maputo. Amavubi coach Johnny McKinstry has made it clear that winning is the main objective but a point away from home will be welcomed with both hands. Following a convincing performance last weekend in the Commemoration Cup where the Amavubi held a star-studded Kenyan side led by Southampton’s Victor Wanyama to a goalless draw before beating Tanzania 2-0, Rwanda showed elements of improvement. However, against Mozambique, they face an athletic and physically dominant side that will be seeking to maximize home advantage but most importantly bag all three points. Os Mambas have registered some incredible results at home in the past year including a 2-0 win over Zambia and a 1-1 draw against Niger. And it is this Mozambican home dominance that the Amavubi want to conquer but history suggests otherwise as the Amavubi have not scored an away goal in a competitive game since the 1-1 draw with Mali in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign on June 9, 2013 in Bamako. Back then it was Ugandan-born striker Meddie Kagere that netted for Rwanda in the 33rd minute before Mahamadou Ndiaye equalized in the 78th minute in the Group H encounter. It was Kagere who also scored the lone goal to guide Rwanda to a 1-0 defeat against Gabon in Libreville last year in a friendly but the prolific finisher has since been dubbed ineligible to play for Rwanda after the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) banned naturalized players. However, McKinstry wants his side to try and break this jinx and score an away goal. He said, “Group H is obviously challenging especially because it has Ghana in it and we see them as the best in Africa. So we have to make sure that we get as many points as possible against the other teams.” He wants the Amavubi to look forward, “We’ve got to look to play the ball in, behind defenses. We’ve got to be aggressive and create the opportunity so we can score one or two goals and that will win us the game.” In the other game of Group H, Ghana hosts Mauritius at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra. Amavubi probable starting XI: Jean-Luc Ndayishimiye, Michel Rusheshangoga, Emery Bayisenge, Faustin Usengimana, Abouba Sibomana, Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza, Yannick Mukunzi, Haruna Niyonzima (C), Jacques Tuyisenge, Jean-Claude Iranzi, Ernest Sugira.

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Amavubi seek to end dismal away record