Ernest Sugira

Ernest Sugira
Personal information
Date of birth	27 March 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Rwanda
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Gor Mahia
Number	11
Senior career*
Years	Team
2012–2013	AS Muhanga
2013–2014	A.P.R.
2014–2016	AS Kigali
2016	AS Vita Club
International career‡
2013–	Rwanda
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 February 2016; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2017

Ernest Sugira (born March 27, 1991) is a Rwandan football player who plays for AS Vita Club.^[1]

^[2]

Career

He began his youth career as a midfielder at AS Muhanga at an early age and led to a Rwandan cup final with the club. In June 2013 he joined Armée Patriotique Rwandaise F.C. In March 2014, He scored a goal in a rout of Amavubi Stars 4-0 in the 2013–14 Rwanda National Football League ^[3] Also, in the Rwandan Cup also known as Peace cup, he missed a penalty in a penalty shootout against his former club AS Muhanga but despite that, his team won 10-9 to advance to the next round.^[4] With Armée Patriotique Rwandaise F.C., he won a double in the season 2013-2014 Rwandan Football season. In September 2014, Sugira signed to AS Kigali among with two other APR FC players to join the club.^[5] In the Rwamagana pre season tournament, he scored a goal in a semifinal against Mukura Victory Sports FC and ultimately won the trophy in the final against the host Sunrise FC.^[6] Then in December 2014, he won yet another trophy in the Ombudsman cup final against Police FC.

In May 2016, Ernest Sugira signed with AS Vita Club, a Democratic Republic of Congo's club, and joined the club for a two years contract.

International career

Ernest Sugira made his debut for Rwanda at the age of 22 against Benin in September 2013 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match. He scored his first international goal against the Mozambique national football team in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Maputo. In January 2016, He played the 2016 African Nations Championship in Rwanda and scored 3 goals in 4 matches. He led Rwanda to the knock-out stages of a major competition for the first time in their history by scoring a brace against the Gabon national football team. He was eventually named the Man of the match. Although he found the back of the net again as Rwanda national football team played its quarter final match against the DR Congo national football team, it did not suffice as the host went on to lose 2-1 in extra time. However, Ernest Sugira was included in the team of the tournament.

International goals

Scores and results list Rwanda's goal tally first.^[7]

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	14 June 2015	Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Mozambique	Mozambique	1–0	1–0	2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.	28 August 2015	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	Ethiopia	1–0	3–1	Friendly
3.	20 January 2016	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	Gabon	1–0	2–1	2016 African Nations Championship
4.	20 January 2016	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	Gabon	2–0	2–1	2016 African Nations Championship
5.	30 January 2016	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	DR Congo	1–1	1–2	2016 African Nations Championship
6.	29 March 2016	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	Mauritius	2–0	5–0	2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7.	29 March 2016	Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda	Mauritius	3–0	5–0	2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8.	11 June 2017	Barthélemy Boganda Stadium, Bangui, Central African Republic	Central African Republic	1–1	1–2	2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification