On Saturday April 27, 2023, Etienne Ndayiragije, Hirondelles coach published the list of 29 players summoned to prepare for the match between Burundi and Namibia on June 20, 2023 as part of the CAN 2023 qualifiers. However, on this list missing are some players accustomed to taking to international competitions.
Etienne Ndayiragije, Hirondelles coach: “The national team always keeps the door open. We have a lot of talented young people ready to serve their country”.
Burundi national team Intamba mu Rugamba is preparing to play the game against the Braves Warriors of Namibia on Tuesday June 20, 2023 in Dar-es-Salaam. It is within the framework of the second round of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2023). In order to prepare for this match, Etienne Ndayiragije, Hirondelles coach released on Saturday April 27 a list of 29 players summoned to start training. However, missing from this list are the long-awaited national team stars including Saido Ntibazonkiza, Cedric Amissi, Mohamed Amissi, etc.
« The national team always keeps the door open. We have many talented young people ready to serve their country “, Etienne Ndayiragije, the Hirondelles coach, replied to journalists who wanted to know why the big players do not appear on the list of 29 players summoned. It was during a press conference organized on Saturday April 27, 2023. Mr. Ndayiragije adds: “ We’re in the playoffs, if need be, we’ll call ’em ».
Burundi must imperatively win the match which will oppose it to Namibia
For its first match of the CAN 2023 qualifiers, Burundi snatched a 1-1 draw against Namibia on June 4, 2022 in South Africa. And, for its second match, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon defeated the Hirondelles with a score of one goal to nil (1-0) at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania). To maximize the chances of qualifying for CAN 2023, Burundi must win the match against Namibia before facing Cameroon on September 8, 2023.
Burundi is in Group C with Cameroon and Namibia. Kenya would have featured in this pool but is now under sanctions due to accusations of embezzlement by the federation president. According FIFA World Ranking of April 2023, Cameroon is at the 42 child place, Namibia ranks 106 child place while Burundi occupies the 145 child position. Note that the match of Burundi against Namibia will be held in Tanzania for lack of land that meets the standards of CAF or FIFA on Burundian soil.
