Amavubi assistant skipper Bizimana Djihad seen against Morocco in a past friendly match. Amavubi team has arrived in Tanger, Morocco focused on the CHAN 2018 tournament
Rwanda Men’s senior football team, Amavubi, have switched focus on the 2018 Africa Nations Championship which kicks on Friday in Casablanca, Morocco.
Rwanda who ended their 10-day training camp with a 4-1 loss to Algeria arrived in Tanger, Morocco on Thursday afternoon. Tanger is the venue of Group C of the 2018 CHAN finals.
The team which has been booked at Royal Tulip Hotel located in the heart of Tanger City, resumes training on Friday evening in preparation for Monday’s opening match against Nigeria.
Speaking to KT Sports, Amavubi assistant skipper Djihad Bizimana said, “All focus is on our opening match against Nigeria on Monday. We had a valuable training camp and losing the last preparation match against Algeria left us with a big lesson.”
“We have since put that behind us, we picked strong points which will be base to win our opening match. With a few days remaining, we are going to embark on correcting the mistakes committed against Algeria and I can assure everyone, we will be ready for Nigeria, it’s a must-win for us.” added Bizimana.
The friendly match at the El Menzah Olympic Stadium in Tunis saw the Fennec Foxes score through Farouk Chafai, Mohamed Amine Abid and El Habib Bouguelmouna, while Rwanda netted through Mubumbyi Barnabe.
The match served as a warm-up for their participation in the upcoming African Nations Championship in Morocco.
After the Algerian friendly match, Amavubi coach Antoine Hey said, “We made some defending mistakes that cost us, we have learnt our lesson, it is a warning shot and I hope the players have heard it, but the good thing, there are no injuries and all players are still available and fit for Monday,”
“Everybody is a little bit disappointed because of the result against Algeria, but not because of the match, and now we are looking forward to the game against Nigeria, we can’t wait to start our campaign,” stated Hey
The Amavubi team is set to train on Friday evening, 6pm (8pm Rwandan time) and Saturday before using official Stade Grande de Tanger for Sunday night’s official training session which will begin from 20:45 to 21:45 ahead Monday’s first game for Rwanda.
Rwanda is placed in Group C alongside 2014 champions Libya, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
The Amavubi team will open its campaign at the Total 2018 CHAN Finals against Nigeria on Monday.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Group C foes, Libya, also arrived in Tanger later at 11pm (1am Kigali time) and will be residing at Hilton Garden Inn.
The Total 2018 CHAN tournament begins on Saturday night with hosts Morocco taking on Mauritania in Group A match which will be played at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca at 19:30 (21:30 Kigali time).
Mauritania are making their second appearance at the CHAN, having debuted in South Africa 2014, where they exited in the group stage.
Rwanda Group C Fixtures, All matches at Grand Stade de Tanger in Tanger
Rwanda vs Nigeria –15th January 2018 19.30pm (21.30)
Rwanda vs Equatorial Guinea–19th January 2018 19.30pm (21.30)
Rwanda vs Libya – 23rd January 2018 19:00 (21h00)
