Rwanda: Amavubi to Face Ethiopian Walias in Friendly

Rwanda will host Ethiopia in a Fifa international friendly game on August 28 in Kigali.

The fixture will be part of Amavubi’s preparations for the Afcon 2017 qualifier against Ghana scheduled for September 5 in the Rwandan capital.

Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) secretary general Olivier Mulindahabi said, “Ethiopia Football Federation sent us a request asking if they can play our national team on Friday, August 28 and there was nothing that could stop us from agreeing to their request.”

He further added that, “They have a good national team and we believe they will give our national team a good test as we prepare for the Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Ghana next month as well the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN),” added Mulindahabi.

Amavubi are scheduled to start residential camp on August 23 after the postponement of the Scotland training camp following a delay in getting visas.

Rwanda defeated Mozambique 1-0 in their opening Group H encounter in Maputo and will be looking to register a positive result against table leaders Ghana, who thrashed Mauritius 7-1 in Accra in the Afcon 2017 qualifiers in June.

Walia Ibex will also be preparing for their second Afcon 2017 Group J qualifier against Seychelles having defeated Lesotho 2-1 in the opener in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia head coach Yohannes Sahle will be hoping to guide his side to the continental showpiece after the side qualified for the 2013 edition under Sewnet Bishaw.

Rwanda have only qualified for Afcon once and that was in 2004 in Tunisia but head coach Johnny McKinstry is keen on qualifying the Amavubi to the Gabon showpiece in 2017.