Amavubi players seen in action while preparing for a past qualifier. Rwanda will play Cote d’Ivoire in Afcon qualifier in June next year
Rwanda’s qualifiers in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign have been postponed from March to June, 2018 according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
CAF took the decision at its Executive Committee Meeting held on November 16, 2017 in Rabat, Morocco.
CAF confirmed the development in a statement posted on their website that “The Executive Committee approved the postponement of the second day matches of the Total AFCON 2019 qualifiers scheduled for March 2018, to allow the African representatives for Russia to take advantage of this FIFA period to prepare for the World Cup,”
The amended schedule approved by CAF Executive Committee will see Rwanda hosting Cote d’Ivoire between June 5-13, 2018 in the second day of the 2019 Afcon Group H qualifiers.
Then Rwanda will play Guinea home and away on day three and four of the qualifiers between September 3-11, 2018.
Match day five which will pit Rwanda against Central Africa Republic will be played between October 6-18, 2018 in Kigali.
Rwanda will conclude her continental quest against Cote d’Ivoire away to Abidjan on November 12-20 on match day six.
Rwanda lost the opening game against Central Africa Republic away in Bangui losing 1-2 in June this year. Group leaders Guinea also stunned the 2015 champions Ivory Coast 3-2 in Abidjan. Ivory Coast and Rwanda are third and fourth, respectively, without a point.
The decision to move the Afcon qualifiers will free space for Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco to schedule friendly matches during the March international break as means of preparing for the 2018 Russia World Cup.
The five nations are set to play two friendly matches in March with the World Cup in Russia to kick-off in June.
2019 Afcon Qualifiers
Match Day 2, June 5-13, 2018
Guinea vs Central Africa
Rwanda vs Cote d’Ivoire
Match Day 3, September 3-11, 2018
Cote d’Ivoire vs Central Africa
Guinea vs Rwanda
Match Day 4, September 3-11, 2018
Central Africa vs Cote d’Ivoire
Rwanda vs Guinea
Match Day 5, October 8-16, 2018
Guinea vs Cote d’Ivoire
Rwanda vs Central Africa
Match Day 6, November 12-20, 2018
Central Africa vs Guinea
Cote d’Ivoire vs Rwanda
