Gasogi United centre back Emery Bayisenge was left elated after being handed a call-up back to Amavubi for the first time in three years. Bayisenge is part of Rwanda’s 31-man squad summoned to prepare for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against South Sudan. The first leg will take place in Juba on December 22 while the second leg will be held in Kigali a week later (December 28). The former APR FC defender last played for Amavubi on January 31, 2021 in a CHAN quarterfinals game against Guinea but he was never selected again. His current form since joining Gasogi United in November as a free agent impressed Rwanda head coach Frank Spittler and his backroom and they decided to give him a chance. “It is an honour for me to return to the national team again. I know I have a responsibility to repay the faith the coach has entrusted in me and, in my mind, there is no doubt that we can get a good result against South Sudan,” Bayisenge told Times Sport. ALSO READ: CHAN 2025 Qualifiers: Dushimimana hits brace as Rwanda see off Djibouti Another fresh face in the squad is Bugesera FC striker Yannick Bizimana who last featured for Amavubi in March 2023. Bizimana, 26, has found his goal scoring form under Burundian coach Francis Haringingo at Bugesera FC. His latest selection came before he scored a late equaliser to help his side hold Police FC to a 2-2 draw at Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday. Rwanda qualified for the second round of the CHAN qualifiers after eliminating Djibouti with a 3-1 victory on aggregate in the first round while South Sudan also saw off Kenya by the same margin. Amavubi join the training camp on Monday, December 15 after Rwanda Premier League Week 13 action.
