RWANDA’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (2017Afcon) suffered a huge blow yesterday after Amavubi lost 3-2 to the Mambas of Mozambique at Amahoro National Stadium.
Rwanda 2-3 MozambiqueTanzania 0-2 EgyptBurundi 0-2 Senegal
RWANDA’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (2017Afcon) suffered a huge blow yesterday after Amavubi lost 3-2 to the Mambas of Mozambique at Amahoro National Stadium.
In a game that the national side needed to win to increase their chances of qualifying for their second ever appearance in the continental show piece, the visitors are the ones who got off to a bright start on the 9th minute after skipper Elias Gaspar Pelembe put his side infront.
Amavubi’s Kenya based striker Jacques Tuyisenge equalised on the 36th minute after a cross from Jean Claude Iranzi but Mozambique pushed hard in the latter stages of the first half and were rewarded with a goal that was scored by Apson David Manjate.
Amavubi had more possession in the second half and Gor Mahia striker Tuyisenge scored his second goal of the game on the 77th minute but it was not enough to earn the national side a point as the visitors immediately scored again after just two minutes. Amavubi can only qualify for the 2017 African Nations Cup if other teams take points off each other.
Rwanda’s last appearance at Afcon was back in 2004 at the expense of bitter rivals and neighbors Uganda as well as Ghana.
Meanwhile Egypt and Senegal booked their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations slots yesterday. Roma winger Mohamed Salah scored both of Egypt's goals in a 2-0 victory away to Tanzania as they returned to the finals of a Nations Cup for the first time since 2010.Senegal sealed their place at Gabon 2017 thanks to goals from their English Premier League players, Sadio Mane and Mame Biram Diouf, who both scored in a 2-0 win away to Burundi.
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