The Junior Wasps seen in Saturday’s training session. The Junior side will take on Kenya in the first leg of the CAf U20 qualifiers’ first round in Machakos on Sunday afternoon
Rwanda U-20 coach, Mashami Vincent expects a tough test from Kenya, when the two sides face-off on Sunday in Machakos, in the first leg of the first round of the qualifiers for the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Niger 2019.
The match is set to be played on Sunday, April 1, 2018, at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos starting3pm (2pm local time), with the second leg set to be played on April 21 at Stade de Kigali.
Rwanda jetted into the country on Friday morning and they held the official training session yesterday at the match venue in Machakos, about 60km away from the capital Nairobi.
“This is a good opportunity for our young lads to showcase the skills they have against a Kenyan side which are regarded as favourites to proceed to the next round.”
“I have trust in them, they are young, talented and ready to sacrifice their best for the pride of their nation. It’s going to be a tricky game but I remain optimistic on securing a promising result away from home,” added the Junior Wasps Head Coach Mashami.
Mashami’s squad is dominated by graduates of the Azam Rwanda Premier League side APR Fc, second division sides Intare Fc and Unity Fc and their experience will come handy.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s U-20 Coach Stanley Okumbi is satisfied with the team’s preparations ahead of the match, and expressed confidence that the Rising Stars will give a good account of themselves against Rwanda.
“We are both physically and psychologically ready. The players are upbeat and psyched up, and I am confident we will get a positive result,” said the Coach.
If Rwanda pulls up a win over the two legs, they will book a date with Zambia in the second round in May.
Seven teams will emerge from the qualifiers to join host Niger for the final tournament scheduled for 2-17 February 2019.
Fixtures
Sunday, 1 April 2018
Kenya vs Rwanda
Gabon vs Togo
Ethiopia vs Burundi
Guinea Bissau vs Sierra Leone
*Liberia vs Benin
*Liberia withdrew, Benin qualified to second round
