The Rwanda U-23 football team’s head coach, Yves Rwasamanzi, has promised to correct the mistakes that led them to a home draw against visitors Mali in the first leg of the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers. Rwanda drew 1-1 with Mali on Saturday, October 22, at Huye Stadium. Rwanda’s team put up a poor showing after missing several chances through Anicet Ishimwe and defender Ashraf Kamanzi. “Honestly, it is a difficult task to deal with; we have an uphill battle in the return leg away from home in Mali. But we still have a chance. I hope we can score goals over there and turn things around. We must go into the next game with a positive mindset and confidence,” Rwasamanzi said. Rwasamanzi added: “We’ll need total focus. We played against a strong team, but in the return leg, we must do better than we did in the first leg. We know we are going to face a team that is in form, and at home. So, we must challenge ourselves to play our best football and stick to our game plan.” Rwanda will need at least a 1-0 win or a draw with more than two goals in Bamako to be able to proceed to the finals. For Rwasamanzi, this qualifier is a tricky test. Picking a win away will require them to use all they have in the tank while a defeat will be another setback, having lost the opening AFCON game. The winner between the Rwanda and Mali game over two legs qualifies for the 2023 U23 AFCON in Morocco. Four nations from the tournament will make it to the 2024 Olympic Games men’s football competition in Paris.
