Ally Niyonzima of Rwanda is challenged by Pedro Oba Mbengono Asu of Equatorial Guinea during the CHAN Group C match between Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea on 19 January 2018 at Grand Stade de Tanger, Tanger Morocco Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Rwanda face Libya on Tuesday night in their final Group C match, knowing they are just a step away from Rwanda’s second-ever quarter-final berth at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The clash is scheduled for Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco, kick-off at 21h00 CAT.
The 2014 champions Libya, stand between Rwanda and a place in the knock out round in their final group game in Tanger of the on-going fifth edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Amavubi head into Tuesday’s clash atop of Group C with four points from two matches and are level on points and goal-difference with second-placed Nigeria and know that a second successive win will seal their place in the knockout stages of the continental showpiece, no matter the result between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Agadir.
A win for Antoine Hey’s youthful team is necessary on Tuesday night to get to seven points and an opportunity to head into the last eight as group leaders.
And based on the mood of the Amavubi team, skipper Eric Ndayishimiye is optimistic Rwanda will progress to the last eight of the tournament.
Speaking to KT Sports on Monday in Tanger, Ndayishimiye said, “We are ready to do whatever it takes to register a positive result against Libya such that we qualify to the quarter final of this tournament. We have fully prepared well for this game, everyone is focused on securing maximum points in our final group game,”
The Amavubi head coach Antoine Hey said, “We will will play an open match with an aim of winning because we have a chance to stay in Tanger and we will love to do so. So we are not scared, we are not under pressure, we are confident and we know we have our plan, we have all players available,”
“We know Libya is a tough team like all the teams which are here, they are difficult to play, so much quality but we are not underdogs as well,”
He further added, “The pressure is on Libya, the Libyans won this tournament in 2014, they are one of the highest ranked teams in this tournament, everybody was expecting them to qualify, they are now facing a big problem, they need to win tomorrow (Tuesday). We have not conceded a goal so far in this tournament, so we have more to win than to lose, and that’s how we will approach it.
Much as Rwanda will be all out for a win, a draw of any result would see them through to the last eight with five points, regardless of the result between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in Agadir.
Libya who are placed third in the group with three points suffered a 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their second group game which was played in Tangier on Friday as Rwanda edged Equatorial Guinea 1-0. So they are left with no choice other than winning to reach the quarter final round
In the last five matches that have pitted Rwanda against Libya, Rwanda has won once, drawn once and lost thrice.
The winner between Rwanda and Libya will qualify for the quarter-finals.
In other matches played on Monday night, Zambia finished top of Group B at the 2018 African Nations Championship after holding Namibia to a 1-1 draw at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.
The result means Chipolopolo will face Sudan in the second quarterfinal in Marrakech on Saturday, while the Brave Warriors will have the challenge of taking on tournament hosts Morocco in the first knockout match earlier the same day in Casablanca.
Both Uganda and Ivory Coast failed to register a single win at the 2018 CAF African Nations Championship tournament as they drew 0-0 at Stade de Marrakech to bow out of the continental showpiece.
Total CHAN Tournament
Group C, Tuesday
Rwanda vs Libya (Stade Tanger, 21:00 CAT)
Nigeria vs Equatorial Guinea, Stade Agadir, 21:00 CAT)
