Rwanda’s Amavubi team head coach Mashami Vincent has named a 27-man provisional team that enters residential camp on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at La Palisse Hotel in Bugesera District.
Amavubi are set to take on the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Stade Bouaké in Abidjan.
The released list has 20 locally based players while seven make the foreign cast. They are scheduled to start preparations for the upcoming qualifier on Thursday. Training sessions will be held until March 20 ahead of their departure to Abidjan on March 21, 2019.
Goalie Mvuyekure Emery plying his trade with Kenyan side Tusker Fc, Rwatubyaye Abdul who recently joined US side Sporting Kansas, Belgium-based duo of Nirisarike Salomon (FC Tubize) and Djihad Bizimana (Waasland Beveren), Muhire Kevin (El Dakhleya Sporting Club, Egypt), Kagere Meddie (SC Simba of Tanzania and stand-in skipper Jacques Tuyisenge who plays for Kenyan giants Gor Mahia compose the list of foreign players summoned for the clash.
The Azam Rwanda Premier League golden boot pursuers Nizeyimana Djuma of SC Kiyovu and Hakizimana Muhadjiri of APR FC, defenders Habimana Hussein (Rayon Sports), Iragire Saidi (Mukura VS) and striker Iradukunda Bertrand (Mukura VS&L) are the conspicuous names on the local list.
Amavubi skipper Haruna Niyonzima and his assistant Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza are major omissions from Mashami’s squad again after missing the Central African Republic (CAR) game last November, which ended in a 2-all draw at Huye Stadium.
While APR captain Mugiraneza is still recovering from injury, play maker Niyonzima has not been a regular at Simba SC in Tanzania and his form has drastically dropped since his move from bitter rivals Young Africans in 2017.
Mashami and his men will be wrapping up their disappointing group campaign away to Ivory Coast after failing to win a single game in the first five games – having only managed two draws, and suffered three defeats, respectively.
Ahead of their final group match, Rwanda is placed bottom of Group H with only two points from five games, three adrift of third-placed CAR. Guinea top the group with 11 points, followed by former African champions Ivory Coast with 8 points.
Amavubi Provisional Squad for residential camp:
Goalkeepers: Rwabugiri Omar (Mukura VS&L), Kimenyi Yves (APR FC) and Mvuyekure Emery (Tusker FC, Kenya).
Defenders: Rwatubyaye Abdoul (Sporting KC, USA), Nirisarike Salomon (FC Tubize, Belgium), Manzi Thierry (Rayon Sports FC), Buregeya Prince (APR FC), Fitina Ombolenga (APR FC), Imanishimwe Emmanuel (APR FC), Habimana Hussein (Rayons Sports FC), Iragire Saidi (Mukura VS&L), Rutanga Eric (Rayon Sports FC) and Iradukunda Eric (Rayon sports FC).
Midfielders: Butera Andrew (APR FC), Niyonzima Ally (APR FC), Muhire Kevin (El Dakhleya Sporting Club, Egypt), Niyonzima Olivier (Rayon Sports FC), Nsabimana Eric (AS Kigali), Bizimana Djihad (Waasland Beveren, Belgium) and Nshimiyimana Imran (APR FC).
Forwards: Kagere Meddie (SC Simba, Tanzania), Tuyisenge Jacques (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Hakizimana Muhadjiri (APR FC),Nshuti Dominique Savio (APR FC),Nizeyimana Juma (Kiyovu Sports), Byiringiro Lague (APR FC) and Iradukunda Bertrand (Mukura VS&L)
