First leg: September, 5 Seychelles vs Rwanda Return leg: September, 10 Rwanda vs Seychelles The National football team, Amavubi will start residential training on Tuesday ahead of the opening 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles scheduled for September, 5. The provisional squad of 25 players will camp at Golden Tulip Hotel in Nyamata and train at Kigali Stadium under newly appointed coach Vincent Mashami. The first leg will take place in Victoria, Seychelles on September 5 while the return leg will played on September 10 at Kigali Stadium. “Because of the nature of the opposition, we needed quick players. We selected players who we thought are capable of giving what we need to try to accomplish our mission of getting a good result away from home,” Mashami said. Should Amavubi see off Seychelles, they will be one of the 14 winners in the qualification playoffs to join the continent’s top-ranked 26 sides, who have been exempted from the preliminary stage of the long journey to Qatar. During the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, Rwanda failed to make it past the first round after falling to Libya. Vincent Mashami’s side will be hoping to avoid a similar nightmare. The 40 teams will then be split into 10 groups of four for the second round. The 10 winners of those groups will then be drawn against each other in home-and-away fixtures, with the five victors landing tickets to Qatar 2022. Amavubi Squad Goalkeepers: Omar Rwabuhihi (APR), Eric Bakame Ndayimiye (AS Kigali), Yves Kimenyi (Rayon Sports) Defenders: Salomon Nirisarike (FC Tubize, Belgium), Eric Rutanga (Rayon Sports), Emery Bayisenge (Saif Sporting Club, Bangladesh), Abdoul Rwatubyaye (Colorado Rapids/USA), Thierry Manzi (APR), Eric Iradukunda (Rayon Sports), Emmanuel Imanishimwe (APR) and Fitina Ombalenga (APR). Midfielders: Andrew Buteera (APR), Kevin Muhire (Mir El Makkasa/Egypt), Yannick Mukunzi (Sandvikens IF), Olivier Sefu Niyonzima (APR), Djihad Bizimana (Waasland Beveren/Belgium), Haruna Niyonzima (AS Kigali) and Jean Claude Iranzi (Rayon Sports). Forwards: Meddie Kagere (Simba SC/Tanzania), Jacques Tuyisenge (Petro Atletico/Angola), Ernest Sugira (APR), Muhadjiri Hakizimana (Emirates Club), Justin Mico (Police), Djabel Manishimwe (APR) and Patrick Sibomana). editor@newtimesrwanda.com
