Amavubi bow out of CECAFA Challenge Cup

Rwanda’s campaign at the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge in Kenya has come to an end albeit with one game still to play in Group A against Tanzania on Saturday.

Friday, December 08, 2017
Amavubi head coach Antoine Hey admitted that winning CECAFA was not his top priority. S. Ngendahimana

ThursdayGroup AZanzibar 2-1 TanzaniaRwanda 0-0 LibyaFridayGroup BUganda Vs South Sudan

Rwanda’s campaign at the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge in Kenya has come to an end albeit with one game still to play in Group A against Tanzania on Saturday.

This was after Antoine Hey’s team drew goalless with guest team, Libya on Thursday, a result that followed two back-to- back defeats in the first two matches against Kenya and Zanzibar.

The draw against Libya at Machakos Stadium leaves Amavubi bottom of Group A with 1 point—Zanzibar lead the standings with maximum 6 points after beating Tanzania 2-1 in the early kick off, while hosts Kenya are second with 4 points. Libya follows in 3rd place with three points.

Tanzania are 4th with one point but have played two matches, same as Zanzibar and Kenya, whereas Rwanda and Libya have played three.

Amavubi have conceded five goals in the tournament, 2 against Kenya and 3 against Zanzibar. Amavubi have so far scored one goal, courtesy of Muhadjir Hakizimana.

Rwanda will play their next game against Tanzania and any result will not save Hey’s team from the early flight back home.

Elsewhere in Group B, Burundi beat Ethiopia 4-1 in Kakamenga to add to the 0-0 draw against defending champions Uganda in the first match on Monday. Burundi lead the table with four points, one ahead of Ethiopia, while third-placed Uganda, who have one point, face pointless South Sudan on Friday.

Rwanda reached the final two years ago and lost to the Uganda Cranes 1-0 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In total, Rwanda has played in seven finals since winning their only trophy in 1999.

The last time Rwanda won the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup was 18 years ago when they beat Kenya 3-1 at Amahoro National Stadium. Rwanda reached the finals in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2015.

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