Namibia CHAN team which played Rwanda in a friendly training match on Sunday in Jemmal
Jemmal-Ten-man Rwanda’s Amavubi team was held to a 1-all draw by Namibia in a friendly training match held on Sunday afternoon in Jemmal Stadium, Tunisia.
The game was staged as part of preparations of the upcoming Total 2018 African Nations Championship which begin on January 13 in Casablanca, Morocco.
AS Kigali forward Nshuti Savio Dominique put Rwanda ahead in the 45th minute following good combination with striker Nshuti Innocent.
Namibia equalized in the 57th minute courtesy of a brilliant goal from substitute striker Itamunua Keimune who beat a defensive lapse from Amavubi defenders to score past goalie Nzarora.
Rwanda displayed good performances with their second string side following changes made by Coach Antoine Hey as gave his players a chance to fight for a starting place in the CHAN tournament where Rwanda will face Nigeria in the opening game of Group C on January 15.
A few minutes to the end of the game, Amavubi skipper of the day, Amran Nshimiyimana was sent off following a second bookable offence outside the goal area.
Despite being ten men, Rwanda still stood firm and defended their result successfully.
Speaking to KT Sports, Amavubi head coach Antoine Hey said, “Drawing 1-1 is a positive result. Some of our players had not played so many matches before, so it was a good game for them. I am very satisfied with the result and the match in general.”
“I am very happy with the performance of Herve Rugwiro and Amran Nshimiyimana today and all in all it was good. Things are working according to our plan and let’s look forward.”
“Now we have two more training sessions on Monday and Tuesday before we play Algeria on Wednesday,” added Coach Antoine.
Rwanda will conclude her training camp on Wednesday with a friendly match against Algeria in Tunis before heading to Morocco.
Rwanda will face Libya, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Group C whose venue is in Tanger, Morocco.
Rwanda qualified for CHAN 2018 after beating Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate score over two legs. This is Rwanda’s third appearance in CHAN finals after 2011 and 2016.
Africa’s second biggest football tournament gathers exclusively players featuring in their respective domestic leagues. It is held once in two years since its inception in 2009 in Ivory Coast.
The Africa Nations Championship will attract Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville.
Line-ups:
Rwanda: Marcel Nzarora (18), Ali Mbogo (9), Herve Rugwiro (16), Fitina Omborenga (13), Celestin Ndayishimiye (3), Ally Niyonzima (8), Amran Nshimiyimana (5), Muhadjiri Hakizimana (10), Nshuti Savio Dominique (11), Barnabe Mubumbyi (21), & Innocent Nshuti (19)
Namibia: Loyot Kazapua (1), Charles Hamibira (3), Mashaba Karonge (5), Edmund Kambanda (20), Riaan Hanamub (4), Dynamo Fredricks (8), Ronald Ketijere (12), Petrus Shitembi (19), Absalom Imbondi (11), Hendrick Somaeb (10) and Junias Theophilus (7).
