Amavubi Head Coach Antoine Hey wants maximum concentration ahead of the return leg against Ethiopia on Sunday
Despite securing a crucial 3-2 away win over Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2018 Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) play-off qualifiers, Amavubi coach Antoine Hey says that nothing is won yet since they still have the return leg to play on November 12th.
Rwanda came from behind to beat hosts Ethiopia 2-3 in the CHAN 2018 play-off first leg in Addis Ababa Sunday. Aschalew Girma opened the scoring in the 18th minute for a 1-0 half time lead.
But Eric Rutanga restored order in the 55th minute. Abubakher Sanni put the coach Ashenafi Bekele side back in the lead in the 78th minute.
Rwanda leveled again through Hakizimana Muhadjiri in the 80th minute with Biramahire Abeddy securing a win for the visitors in the dying minutes of the game.
The coach Antoine Hey side carries home three invaluable away goals ahead of the return leg on Saturday 11th, November in Kigali.
However, the German-born tactician believes anything can happen in the return leg hence emphasizing the need to prepare effectively ahead of the game.
Speaking to media on Sunday after the game in Addis Ababa, Hey said, “Nothing is won yet, we have another 90 minutes to play, we have home advantage and it’s just now half time and everything can happen, this is football and we are going to work hard to get players ready for the next game.”
“We are very happy with results and the match in general. We came back twice from behind after the first goal from Ethiopia and then another one after about six minutes. It was hard but players dealt with it. It shows the mentality we have in our squad. It’s good for them to play in such an atmosphere, they have done extremely well and are getting better in every match,” Hey added.
Ethiopia coach Ashenafi Bekele said, “It was not a bad game. But the goals we conceded left us demoralised. I want to apologize to the public. We had finishing problems. If you don’t have good forwards, it will cost. I have said this over and over again; these are the only players we have. It is beyond my capacity. I sincerely apologise for what happened.”
Amavubi team returns back in the country today afternoon and will head straight to camp at La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata before holding their sessions tomorrow at Stade de Kigali.
The return leg of the play-off will be held on Sunday at Stade de Kigali with the aggregate winner booking a final slot at the 2018 CHAN to be hosted by Morocco.
Rwanda needs to maintain a goalless score in the return leg but a 2-0 win for Ethiopia might end Rwanda’s hopes of featuring in next year’s continental championship.
