Former Amavubi coaches tip Rwanda to shine in CHAN

Day 1 CHAN fixtures Saturday, 16 January 2016 Rwanda vs Ivory Coast (Amahoro Stadium, 15:00) Gabon vs Morocco (Amahoro Stadium, 18:00) Sunday, 17 January 2016 DR Congo vs Ethiopia (Huye Stadium, 15:00) Angola vs Cameroon (Huye Stadium, 18:00) Monday, 18 January 2016 Tunisia vs Guinea (Kigali Regional Stadium, 15:00)Nigeria vs Niger (Kigali Regional Stadium, 18:00 Tuesday, 19 January 2016 Zimbabwe vs Zambia (Rubavu Stadium, 15:00) Mali vs Uganda (Rubavu Stadium, 18:00) Former Amavubi players Jean Baptiste Kayiranga and Eric Nshimiyimana have said that Rwanda have all they need to reach the later stages of the upcoming 2016 African Nations Championship, which gets underway on January 16 through February 7, 2016. The hosts will play their opening game against the Elephants of Ivory Coast when the tournament kicks off on January 16 at Amahoro National Stadium in Remera, Kigali. Rwanda will then play their second game against Gabon before finishing the group matches with a tie against Morocco. Former Rayon Sports forward Jean Baptiste Kayiranga says all the Amavubi players need is confidence ahead of their group games matches. “I’m confident they can get out of the group stage because they have been prepared well. It is a group which is not easy and all the teams are strong but Rwanda are also not easy to play against, players only need to give their best,” former Amavubi and Rayon Sports forward Kayiranga said. “We have home advantage and have the support from the fans during the entire group games, so players have to give their best,” he added Nshimiyimana, who featured in the only Amavubi side to have played in any AFCON tournament, in 2004, however, warns that the group in which Rwanda are is tough even as Amavubi have showed signs of great improvement just ahead of CHAN. “We have to beat big teams if we have to raise the level of our game. We have quality players and I believe they can do very well against any team in their group,” former APR and Amavubi defensive midfielder said. “But the players need to be confident, to have a winning mentality, and to make the most of home advantage,” he said. He added: “Rwanda has the capacity to beat any team.” The tournament will be staged at four stadiums around the country; Amahoro in Gasabo District, Kigali regional stadium in Nyarugenge District, Umuganda in Rubavu District, and Huye in Huye District. This will be the biggest football tournament to be staged in Rwanda, with the country having played host to the U-20 African Youth Championships in 2009 as well as the U-17 African Championships. editorial@newtimes.co.rw