We need to up our goal record ahead of CHAN – Tuyisenge

Amavubi forward Jacques Tuyisenge says the national team will need to be prolific if they are to have a successful African Nations Championship. Coach Johnny Mckinstry has six strikers in his preliminary 32-man squad that resumes training on Monday. The strikers include: Jacques Tuyisenge (Police), Ernest Sugira (AS Kigali), Isaie Songa (Police), Djuma Nizeyimana (SC Kiyovu), Dany Usengimana (Police) and Yusuf Habimana (Mukura). Amavubi scored six goals in the recent Cecafa Challenge Cup but three of those goals came against a weakened Somalia side. The national side also scored just two goals in eight matches in the 2018 World Cup and 2017 African nations qualifying matches. Tuyisenge, who scored 3 goals in the 2015 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia, says the Amavubi defence has not been leaking in many goals and if they can work on improving their goals return, then the national side will have a successful CHAN tournament. “We are a strong team but football is about scoring goals so the strikers, me inclusive need to be accurate in front of goal. We will also need an element of luck because we shall be up against tough sides where you get like two goal scoring chances that you have to put away,” Tuyisenge said. The 24-year-old also says that Amavubi will respect their opponents but will not fear them. “We were drawn in a very tough group, but it doesn’t make a big difference for us. With our spirit and determination we can qualify to the next round. In January we will be analysing videos of the teams we will face and we know they are tough teams but we are ready to give our best,” the Police striker added. Amavubi did not qualify for the last edition of the CHAN tourney, a competition in which their Group A opponents Gabon and Morocco reached the quarter finals. Rwanda is the fourth country to host Africa Nations Championship after Cote d’Ivoire in 2009, Sudan in 201, and South Africa 2014. The CHAN competition was designed for national players in their domestic leagues. The Democratic Republic of Congo won the first edition, while Tunisia took the second, with Libya winning last year’s edition. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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We need to up our goal record ahead of CHAN – Tuyisenge