The national football team will lock horns with Ethiopia for a place in next year’s African Nations tournament scheduled in Algeria. When it comes to the CHAN, which is a CAF second tier senior national team competition, the two East African countries have met four times with Rwanda winning one, drawing two and losing one. Rwanda will play as guests to Ethiopia at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday, August 26 in the first leg of the second round of the CHAN qualifiers with the return leg slated for September 3rd in Huye district, Southern Rwanda. Times Sport takes a look at five players who can decide the outcome of the first tie. Abdul Rwatubyaye (Rayon Sports, Rwanda) The defender will be one of the players who can singlehandedly decide the outcome of the encounter. Rwatubyaye has seen it all in Europe and coming back to the African scene, he is expected to use his experience to bring stability to the back four The Rayon Sports sweeper is a good reader of the game who can command the other players in defense. He is also noted for popping up to head in goals. Don’t be surprised if one moment of brilliance from Rwatubyaye settles the game. Ramadan Yusef (St. George, Ethiopia) The talented left-back has signed for champions St. George after his impressive output for Wolkite last season. One of the best defenders Ethiopia can boast of currently, Yusef is an all-round lateral defender who tackles, starts attacks from the back and can score. The Rwandan attackers must prevent him from playing his normal game if the Amavubi are to get the desired results. Antoine Dominique Ndayishimiye (Police FC, Rwanda) The free scoring striker will lead the attack of the Amavubi and is likely to be partnered by Yves Mugunga. Ndayishimiye is a ruthless finisher who hardly misses chances and his exploits last season for Police FC tells it all. He will be going all out in the game as a couple of goals could also cement his place in the Amavubi set up for the AFCON qualifiers. Mesud Mohammed Mussa (Jimma Aba Jifar, Ethiopia) The Jimma Aba Jifar central midfielder is among the best box to box midfielders in the Ethiopian league. He has been capped 29 times by the national team scoring three goals and he was on target in the 5-0 win against South Sudan. The Rwandan central midfielders especially Rashid Kalisa has be on top of his game to nullify the threat he poses. Haruna Niyonzima (AS Kigali, Rwanda) He is returning to a familiar territory having played for Tanzania’s Yanga football club at the Bernard Mkapa Stadium a few years ago. Haruna is gradually picking form as he was very influential last season helping AS Kigali lift the Peace Cup. The Amavubi skipper will lead the team on Friday and he could pull the strings to enable his side get the needed results in Tanzania.
