Rwanda’s new tactician Carlos Ferrer has named Centre-Back Salomon Nirisarike as the Amavubi new captain.
The coach has left out veteran captain Haruna Niyonzimana who was dropped on Friday alongside his assist-Jacques Tuyisenge for the preliminary squad for the opening two rounds of the Afcon 2023 qualifiers.
Ferrer has however insisted he has not named him a captain yet.
“I will have to speak to the team before announcing the captain,” he told the media
Nirisarike is highly experienced having played for the national team since 2011; he plays his professional football for the Armenian club FC Urartu, as a defender.
The Gisenyi born spent his early career with Isonga, Royal Antwerp, Sint-Truidense, and Tubize.
On 1 September 2019, Nirisarike signed for FC Pyunik, extending his contract with Pyunik on 2 December 2019.
On 19 February 2021, Nirisarike joined FC Urartu.
The qualifiers for the continent’s biggest showpiece will be the first test for Ferrer who took over as head coach after the football governing body (Ferwafa) decided to boot Vincent Mashami in March.
Rwanda is in Group L alongside defending champions Senegal, Mozambique, and Benin.
Rwanda travels to South Africa ahead of the opening game against Mozambique on June 1 before hosting Senegal on June 8.
The top two teams from the group will qualify for the AFCON 2023 slated in Ivory Coast from June 23 to July 23 next year.
