Rwanda 1 – Ivory Coast 0

KIGALI - Rwanda extended their history making by reaching the finals of the 9th edition of the African U-17 Championship being held in Kigali.

The Junior Wasps beat Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in the second semi final match of the two-week long football tournament, played at Amahoro stadium yesterday.

Striker Justin Mico, scored the all important goal on 72nd minute to send Rwanda into the finals on their debut in the African championship.

President Paul Kagame attended the tournament and was a major inspiration for the home side.
The junior Wasps would have doubled the lead in the dying minutes of the game but Charles Mwesigye Tibingana’s shot went wide after he outran the Ivorian defence and beat goalkeeper Aboubakar Ouattara.

Rwanda’s victory enabled them to book a date against Burkina Faso in the finals on Saturday at Amahoro stadium. Ivory coast will battle Congo, on Friday, at Nyamirambo Stadium for 3rd place.

Both matches are replicas of encounters in the Group stage where Rwanda beat Burkina Faso 2-1 while Congo and Cote d’Ivoire drew 2-2.

Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo have all earned a place at the under-17 World Cup in Mexico later this year.

Rwanda has never participated in any World Cup finals and has only competed at one senior African Cup of Nations finals held in Tunisia, seven years ago.

Burkina Faso will also be playing in the final of the U-17 for the first time.

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