Friendly Match, TodayRwanda 0-1 Burundi 

RWANDA’S UNDER-20 team, the Junior Wasps failed to contain their Burundian counterparts as they lost 1-0 in a friendly match played yesterday at Kigali regional stadium. 

Though Rwanda cruised to the next round of the Africa Youth Championship, the game was vital for the Burundians who are expecting to play away to Djibouti in the first round, first leg of the competition due on April 5. 

Hassan Bizimana headed home the lone goal of the game in the 59th minute, from Emmanuel Mvuyekure’s corner. 

Richard Tardy’s team was dominant in the first half of the match and could have found the net but Blaise Itangishyaka was wasteful in front of goal as he missed several clear cut chances. 

The Burundians took charge of the second half. They controlled the midfield and denied Rwandan strikers any chance to find the net. 

The loss exposed Tardy’s outfit which was missing six of its first choice players but also showed him potential players he will rely on for the second round match against Gabon. 

Spain Valencia academy duo of Yves Rwigema and Anderson Neza were impressive except striker Fiston Nkizingabo who was not at his level best to yield any positive result. 

Despite the loss, Tardy who guided Rwanda to 2011 World U-17 Cup finals is sure of recovering from the defeat to align a strong winning team in a month’s time ready to battle for a place in the final qualification round. 

If Rwanda sails past Gabon in the second round of the competition due in May, they will take on the winner between Sierra Leone/Guinea and Ghana in the final round.