A big setback for Amavubi

2015 Afcon qualifiers Yesterday Congo 2-0 Rwanda Lesotho 1-0 Kenya Tanzania 2-2 Mozambique Benin 1-0 Malawi Saturday Uganda 2-0 Mauritania Botswana 2-0 Guinea Bissau Sierra Leone 2-0 Seychelles AMAVUBI SUFFERED a major blow in their quest to qualify to the next round of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier following a 2-0 loss to hosts Congo Brazzaville yesterday at Municipal Stadium in Pointe-Noire. After a playing a goalless first half, Amavubi’s poor defending gifted the Red Devils to find the net twice through Cesaire Gandze on 70th minute and Ferebory Dore on 86th minute respectively. Amavubi’s best chances came through Jean Claude Iranzi’s free kick which was not put to good use and Dady Birori whose efforts were twice put at bay by the Congolese goalkeeper. APR’s Michel Ndahinduka and goalie Jean Luc Ndayishimiye were the only substitutes that came on to replace Birori and injured goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli. This was Rwanda’s major loss in the Africa Nations Cup campaign to Morocco next year having drawn away to Libya in Rades and registered a 3-0 over the Mediterranean Knights in Kigali in the first round. The loss means that Rwanda will have to dig deep to register a 3-0 win over the Congolese in the return leg scheduled for August 2 in Kigali to be assured of qualification to the next round. On Tuesday, Amavubi head to Libreville to play a return leg of the international friendly match against Gabon slated for Sunday, July 27 before returning back to the country next Monday in preparation for the second leg against Congo. The aggregate winner over the two legged tie will join group A which has South Africa, Nigeria and Sudan. Elsewhere, hosts Lesotho made home advantage count with a 1-0 win over Harambee Stars of Kenya at the Setsotso Stadium. Tsepo Bushy Moletsane netted the important goal in the 60th minute after a mix up in the Kenyan defence. The home side capitalised on a counter attack and Moletsane shot past goalkeeper Wilson Oburu. The Kenyan team will now hope that they can also make use of the home advantage when the two teams clash in the return leg. The team will also hope that first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi and French-based striker Dennis Oliech are available for the vital game. The overall winner after two legs will join Group C which has Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon. In Dar es salaam, Mozambique snatched a dramatic draw away to Tanzania to finish 2-2 in a first leg qualifier at the National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam. The match is one Tanzania coach Mart Nooij would like to quickly forget, especially as it was against Mozambique whom he coached between 2007 and 2011 and led to the 2010 Africa Cup finals in Angola. Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Domingues put Mozambique ahead in the 47th minute from the penalty spot. Azam FC midfielder Khamis Mcha then hit the Mambas with a brace, scoring his first in the 66th minute before adding his second in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot. However, Mozambique had the last say through Maxaquene winger Isac Carvalho, who scored a 90th minute equaliser to hand the Mambas a vital away draw. The two sides meet in the final leg on August 2 in Maputo with the overall winner advancing to Group F. On Saturday, Uganda Cranes beat Mauritania 2-0 in Kampala courtesy of two second half goals from substitute Brian Majwega and South African based professional Geoffrey Massa. In Gaborone, Botswana beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 in a 2015 Africa Cup second round, first leg qualifier at the National Stadium. A brace by Lemponye Tshireletso gave The Zebras a crucial first leg victory at home to take into the return leg in Bissau to be played during the weekend of August 2. The Winner over both legs will face Tunisia in a Group G opening game away in Tunis during the weekend of September 6. Senegal and seven-time champions Egypt are the other teams in a tough Group G.

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A big setback for Amavubi