Rwanda national team head coach Johnny McKinstry is confident that his team can beat Ghana in their Group H 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Gabon qualifier scheduled for September 6 at Amahoro national stadium.
Amavubi Stars started residential training camp on Monday ahead of a friendly match against Ethiopia on August 28 before the top of the table clash with the Black Stars.
The last time the two teams met in Kigali was in 2003 in the qualifier for the 2004 AFCON finals, with Amavubi famously emerging the winners courtesy of a Jimmy Gatete solitary goal of the match.
Ghana will play the Republic of Congo in an international friendly on September 1 in Brazzaville before taking on Rwanda in Kigali.
The West African giants walloped Mauritius 7-1 in their opening qualifier in Accra two months ago while Rwanda registered a 1-0 away win against Mozambique in Maputo.
“Ghana are a very tough side and the best team in Africa but it is a task we have to face without fear, I am quite confident we can beat them but if we can’t, at least we will make sure we don’t lose,” McKinstry said.
“They are a deferent team since 2003 when Rwanda beat them, after missing 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, they have been at every (AFCON) finals tournament, to me they are the best team in Africa,” the Irishman said.
He acknowledged that, “Ghana will probably have good touch and better movement because they have very good players who play in the best leagues in Europe, so we are going to prepare very well.”
McKinstry said he will not set up his team to defend but rather to go for victory. “We are going for three points and if we don’t get a good result, it is part of the game, but one thing for sure is that we will go into the game trying to win.”
Asked if pressure that comes with the high expectations from the fans won’t affect his players, the 29-year old former Sierra Leone tactician stated that, “To the contrary, pressure will instead motivate us to do a good job.”
Rwanda, who first and last appeared at the AFCON finals tournament in 2004 in Tunisia, will be seeking to register a good result against Ghana to be able to remain on course of qualifying for 2017 finals in Gabon.
Additional reporting by Rwanda Times
