Saturday January 30, 2016
Rwanda Vs DR Congo – Stade de Amahoro, Kigali 3pm Local Time (4pm EAT)
Fireworks is expected at Amahoro stadium on Saturday afternoon when bitter rivals Rwanda and DR Congo clash in the first quarter final of the 2016 CHAN.
The hosts beat giants Cote d’Ivoire (1-0) and Gabon (2-1) to book a slot in the last eight before suffering a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Morocco in the penultimate group game.
Like Rwanda, DR Congo won their first two games; 3-0 against Ethiopia and 4-2 versus Angola but lost their final game 3-1 against The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to finish second in group B.
The Amavubi will go into the game full of confidence following a motivational visit to the president H.E Paul Kagame who did affirm to them that the nation is truly behind them in the struggle.
“We are all behind you; the whole country is behind you. You are carrying the name of your country,” Kagame told the team as quoted by the Times of Rwanda.
“Everyone loses at some point but losing is unacceptable when it is a result of you performing under your capabilities…Know that you have the ability to win this cup but do not behave as if you have already won. Work for it and work as a team,” he added.
Coach John McKinstry however called on all fans to come cheer the boys like it has been in the group stages.
“All I want to see is yellow. If we get that support, it will add that twelfth man and an extra 10 per cent to win the game.”
Meanwhile, DR Congo tactician Florent Ibenge said all his troops are available for selection and raring to go.
“We worked so hard in the earlier matches to put this pressure off. The players know our mission. We have 23 players on the team and all the players are good to go. In the last game (against Cameroon), some players missed due to accumulated cards but they are all available.”
Key Men
Although he is yet to net in the tournament, Rwanda skipper Jacques Tuyisenge remains the most important man on the team and will be key if Rwanda are to reach a historical semi-finals.
For DR Congo, the main man will be Meschak Elia; scorer of two goals in the group stages.
The winner of the tie meets the winner between Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire who clash at Butare in the second game on the day.