The Amavubi team head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named a 23-man team which will undergo a ten-day training camp in Morocco in preparation for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

While in Morocco, Rwanda is scheduled to face Burkina Faso’s domestic team on October 9 as part of preparations for the locally based players ahead of Chan 2016 which will be hosted in Rwanda from January 16-February 7, 2016.

Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) and their counterparts from Morocco who will be hosting them as part of the MOU signed between the two federations are still in negotiations with Equatorial Guinea to play an A-team Fifa friendly match on October 13, 2015 which will be played in preparation for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Libya due in November.

Releasing the 23-man team on Wednesday morning, Coach McKinstry told www.ferwafa.rw that the Morocco camp is a great opportunity to work towards a couple of objectives over a ten day period.

“Firstly; as it falls in a FIFA window, it means that we have been able to call our international based players to join us. For many teams in Africa, the window in October will be used to compete in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers,”

“However, due to our ranking we go straight into round two, and as such, this camp will allow us to prepare well for our second round game against Libya. The environment and climate in Morocco will help to ensure we are ready for our first leg encounter against Libya in November, when we once again will have to travel to North Africa,”

McKinstry further added, “The second objective of the camp is to work on our CHAN team, both in terms of shape and style of play. To this end we have named a 23 man squad; allowing us to field a local-players only team in one of our fixtures; whilst the second game will feature those players based overseas,”

“Overall I am expecting a very worthwhile 10 days that will allow us to undertake a lot of work as we move forward on multiple fronts,” explained McKinstry.

Some of the international-based players summoned include; skipper Haruna Niyonzima of Tanzania’s Young Africans, Azam’s midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza Belgium’s Sint Truiden defender Salomon Nirisarike, Switzerland’s Lausanne Sport-based striker Quentin Rushenguziminega and Kenya’s Gor Mahia defender Abouba Sibomana.

The rest of the team comprise of home-based players with the current Azam Rwanda Premier League top scorer Rodrigue Murengezi being the new face in the squad following his impressive performance for AS Kigali this season.

The Rwanda team delegation heads to Morocco on Sunday.

Amavubi Squad:

Goalkeepers: Eric Ndayishimiye (Rayon) and Olivier Kwizera (APR)

Defenders: Michel Rusheshangoga (APR), Fitina Omborenga (Kiyovu), Abouba Sibomana (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Celestin Ndayishimiye (Mukura VS), Abdul Rwatubyaye (APR), Salomon Nirisarike (Sint Truiden, Belgium), Faustin Usengimana (APR), James Tubane (Rayon Sports)

Midfielders: Jean Baptista Mugiraneza (Azam, Tanzania), Yannick Mukunzi (APR), Djihad Bizimana (APR), Mohammed Mushimiyimana (Police), Haruna Niyonzima (Young Africans, Tanzania), Hegman Ngomirakiza (Police), Jean Claude Iranzi (APR), Innocent Habyarimana (Police), Jacques Tuyisenge (Police) and Murengezi Rodrigue (AS Kigali)

Forwards: Quentin Rushenguziminega (Lausanne Sport, Swiss), Isaie Songa (Police), and Ernest Sugira (AS Kigali).

Source: Ferwafa.rw

Bonface Osano

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com