Amavubi forward Hakim Sabaho on Friday returned to his club Lille in France as his red card against Benin during Wednesday’s AFCON qualifier in Cotonou got him suspended from playing the return leg in Kigali.
The Rwanda international was part of Amavubi team that held Benin to a 1-1 draw in Cotonou as he assisted Gilbert Mugisha to give the visitors a 13th minute lead before equalized in the 82nd minute through Steve Moubie after Sahabo had been sent off for a second bookable offense in the 60th minute.
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He returned to France as his one-match suspension ruled him out of Benin return leg rendezvous in Kigali on Wednesday, March 29 at Kigali Pele Stadium.
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"I am joining my team because I have school and I will not play the return leg so it is better to go back and prepare for school and the next matches with my club," the 17-year-old said.
"I am happy with my contribution for my country’s goal in Benin and I will keep on working hard to deliver more. Receiving a red card is part of the game and what I wish now is to see my teammates win the return leg," he added.
Sahabo is a youth product of KVC Willebroek-Meerhof, Beerschot, Anderlecht, Genk, Mechelen, and Lille. He began his senior career with Lille's reserves in 2022.
Born in Belgium to a Burundian father and Rwandan mother, the youngster made his international debut with the Rwanda national team in a friendly 0–0 tie with Sudan on November 17, 2022.