Uganda may face Rwanda in CAF U-23
May 04, 2015
Uganda Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic must be praying for CAF to lockout eight players of the Rwanda U-23 national team players for cheating.
By Swalley Kenyi
Uganda Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic must be praying for CAF to lockout eight players of the Rwanda U-23 national team players for cheating.
Uganda is likely to play Rwanda in the CAF U-23 Championship qualifiers in the second round.
Rwanda is facing Somalia in the return leg of the first round in Kenya this weekend. They won the first leg in Kigali 2-0.
Uganda is due to play the winner on aggregate between Somalia and Rwanda in the second round of the qualifiers.
After Rwanda national federation FERWAFA submitted names of their squad to CAF for the U-23 Championship qualifiers, the continental body reportedly asked the federation to clarify on the players’ ages.
The respective players, who featured in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup had indicated different ages for the CAF club engagements from the ones FERWAFA submitted for them on the national U-23 squad.
The confusion has come just nine months after Rwanda was banned from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group stage qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player.
FERWAFA president Vincent Degaule Nzamwita confirmed the confusion but insisted that they are the ones who wrote to Confederation of African Football (CAF) seeking clarification about the players’ legibility because they had conflicting dates of birth on their passports.
The players in question include first choice goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera and right back Michel Rusheshangoga –both players are also starters for the senior team.
Others are Central defenders Faustin Usengimana and Herve Rugwiro;defensive midfielder Robert Ndatimana;attacking midfielders Andrew Buteera and Djihad Bizimana as well as third choice goalkeeper Yves Kimenyi.
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