Amavubi will be eager to stage good performances at the CECAFA Challenge Cup in Kenya
Rwanda has been drawn in a tough group which is comprised of hosts Kenya and Northern African giants Libya in the forthcoming Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup to be staged from December 3 to 17, 2017.
In the drawing ceremony held on Thursday in Nairobi, Rwanda was drawn against hosts Kenya whom they face in the opening match of the tournament on December 3, guest side Libya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Defending champions, Uganda pulled a relatively easy group B alongside Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.
The games are set to kick off on December 3 to 17 in three different venues across the country; Kisumu (Moi Stadium), Kakamega (Bukungu) and Nakuru (Afraha) with Nairobi (Kasarani) and Machakos (Kenyatta Stadium) counties acting as stand-by venues.
Sudan withdrew from taking part in the tournament following Eritrea and Djibouti as other regional nations that are not taking part in this year’s edition.
Rwanda will use the regional tournament as preparation for next year’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN 2018) which will be held in Morocco.
The Amavubi team will start preparations for the regional tournament on December 26 after the climax of the Azam Rwanda Premier league match day six and seven fixtures.
In 2015, Rwanda finished second after losing 0-1 to champions Uganda in the tournament which was last held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Full draws:
Group A: Kenya, Libya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zanzibar.
Group B: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan.
2017 Cecafa Challenge Cup Fixtures
December 3, 2017
Group A
Libya vs Tanzania
Kenya vs Rwanda
December 4, 2017
Group B
Burundi vs Ethiopia
Uganda vs Zimbabwe
December 5, 2017
Group A
Zanzibar vs Rwanda
Kenya vs Libya
December 6, 2017
Group B
South Sudan vs Zimbabwe
Uganda vs Burundi
December 7, 2017
Tanzania vs Zanzibar
Rwanda vs Libya
December 8, 2017
Group B
South Sudan vs Ethiopia
Zimbabwe vs Burundi
December 9, 2017
Group A
Rwanda vs Tanzania
Kenya vs Zanzibar
December 10, 2017
Group B
South Sudan vs Burundi
Ethiopia vs Uganda
December 11, 2017
Group A
Libya vs Zanzibar
Kenya vs Tanzania
December 12, 2017
Group B
Uganda vs South Sudan
Zimbabwe vs Ethiopia
December 13, 2017
Rest Day
December 14, 2017
1st Semi final (Winner A vs Runners-up B)
December 15, 2017
2nd Semi final (Winner B vs Runners-up A)
December 16, 2017
Rest Day
December 17, 2017
Third-place & Final
