Sports

2013 African Nations Cup qualifiers
Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria (1st leg)

Other results
Madagascar 0 - 4 Cape Verde
Burundi 0 - 2 Zimbabwe
Ethiopia 0 - 0 Benin
Tanzania 1 - 1 Mozambique
Seychelles 0 - 4 DRC
Chad 3 - 2 Malawi
Kenya 2 - 1 Togo
Congo 3 - 1 Uganda

RWANDA have their work cut out after being held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in the first leg of the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier at Kigali Regional Stadium.

Spurred on by their vociferous fans, Milutin Micho’s team had chances to win it either side of half time but could not convert.

The best chance of the match came mid-way the second half when Dady Birori failed to convert a Kalisa Mao throw-in with only a flat-footed Vincent Enyeama in the Nigerian goal to beat.

Bokota Labama, who came on for Hussein Sibomana in the first 15 minutes of the second half, also had chance to break the deadlock but shot wide after rounding off Nigeria’s left back Emmanuel Azubuike Egwuekwe.

Ejike Uzoenyi came close to scoring for the visitors in the first half but his effort struck the bar. For most parts of the game, the Super Eagles struggled to cope with a lively Rwandan midfield manned by Jean Baptist Mugiraneza a.k.a Migi, Sibomana and Haruna Niyonzima.

On the 65 minute, Birori’s screaming shot sailed just wide of the cross bar.

Moments later, he had another opportunity saved by Enyeama, who grabbed the ball at his feet before he could shoot at goal.

It was Stephen Keshi’s first major match in charge of the Eagles who will host Rwanda in a return leg slated for June 15 in Abuja.

In other qualifiers, Kenya upset Togo, winning 2-1 in Nairobi, Uganda lost 3-1 to Congo Brazzaville while Chad beat Malawi 3-2.

Cape Verde thrashed Madagascar 4-0 while Burundi went down 0-2 against Zimbabwe. Knowledge Musona and Vusa Nyoni were on target for the Warriors.

Contact email: bonniemugabe[at]newtimes.co.rw