Bandari FC custodian Justin Ndikumana has been included in Burundi’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2023 qualifiers slated to start at the end of the month.Ndikuma is among the 30 players called up, with former Gor Mahia defender Karim Nzigiyimana and former Sofapaka midfielder Amisi Bizimana also being included.The former Sofapaka goalkeeper has not been a regular with the Dockers this season, with Michael Wanyika being the most preferred option between the sticks while Joseph Okoth has been the one preferred to deputize Wanyika, seeing the Burundian fade away from the limelight at the club.#IntambaZacu 🤍❤💚@CAN2023CIV @CAF_Online @CAF_Media @fifamedia https://t.co/0joiQN2RKI— F.F.B (@BurundiFF) May 13, 2022 Ndikumana extended his stay with the Mbaraki-based club last year for three years which would see him stay at Bandari until 2024 having joined in 2019 from Sofapaka.Burundi are in group C alongside Cameroon, Namibia, and Kenya whose participation in the qualifiers hangs on the balance as FKF is still suspended by FIFA and thus cannot take part in intermational matches.In the event that Kenya will not take part, which is highly likely, Burundi stand a good chance to make it out of the group stages.Résultats du tirage au sort🏆AFCON2023 Q ( GROUPE C)-CAMEROUN-KENYA-NAMIBIE-BURUNDI#IntambaZacu 💚❤️💪 pic.twitter.com/DMwlIpGWuq— Intamba Mu Rugamba (@intambazacu) April 19, 2022 Burundi will use Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as their home ground and will host Cameroon there in June as they do not have a CAF-approved Stadium back at home, according to the President of the Burundi Football Federation Alexandre Muyenge.“Since none of our Stadiums has been approved by CAF, we have decided to use the Stadium in Tanzania as a home ground for our matches in the AFCON 2023 qualifiers,” Muyenge is quoted saying on CECAFA’s portal.The Swallows will kick off their qualifying campaign against Namibia on the road on June 4.
