We’ll be able to compete with Cape Verde – Rwanda coach

Vincent Mashami, head coach of Rwanda

Saturday Oct 24, 2020. 14:00

Rwanda coach Vincent Mashami has expressed his confidence that Amavubi will be able to compete on an even footing with Cape Verde in back-to-back matches next month.

Rwanda and the Blue Sharks will clash in matches in Group F of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, set for Praia and Kigali on November 11 and 17 respectively.

Mashami has overseen a training camp which ended earlier this week, but preparations will resume tomorrow (Sunday, October 25) as Rwanda build toward a crunch double-header.

Mashami noted that he has been impressed by the players’ motivation and commitment to improve despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Players had very limited training time because of Covid-19 but still, put up a good effort in the last ten days. With the intensive training, I believe we are able to compete now,” Mashami is quoted by the New Times.

The coach faces an uphill battle in trying to turn around Rwanda’s fortunes in the qualifiers: they lost 2-0 away to Mozambique and 1-0 at home to Cameroon to sit at the bottom of the log with zero points.

“They came to camp in really bad shape, but now they are at a good level,” continued Mashami. “There is still work to do, but the last two weeks will be enough to have the strongest team available before the two matches against Cape Verde.”

Rwanda have only appeared in one Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament, exiting at the group stage in Tunisia in 2004.