Amavubi stars continue poor run

Friday: First leg Libya 1-0 Rwanda Madagascar 2 – 2 Senegal Comoros 0 - 0 Ghana Kenya 1 - 0 Cape Verde Rwanda national team has continued its poor run after losing 1-0 against Libya in the first leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Friday at Stade Olympique de Sousse in Tunisia. The lone goal by Faicel Al Badri came through a penalty kick in the 48th minute after goalkepper Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye brought down a Libyan player inside the box. The second leg will be played next week on Tuesday at Kigali Regional Stadium where Rwanda has an excellent record against visitors. Swiss-based forward Quentin Rushenguziminega and Police FC midfielder Hegman Ngomirakiza each had an opportunity to equalize but both failed to hit the back of the net. In second half, Johnny McKinstry made changes, bringing on striker Ernest Sugira for midfielder Jean Claude Iranzi, Ngomirakiza on for Yannick Mukunzi while Rusheshangoga was replaced by Fitina Omborenga but they didn’t make any impact. This is the fifth consecutive loss without scoring for Rwanda under McKinstry, who joined Amavubi in May this year. It follows defeats against Ghana 1-0 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in September. The team then went on to lose 1-0 to Gabon in an international friendly, 1-0 to both Burkina Faso CHAN team and the Tunisia Olympic U-23 team in Morocco last month. Left back Abouba Sibomana, right back Michel Rusheshangoga and goalie Ndayishimiye were all booked for Amavubi side while Libya’s Faical Al Badri, Ali Salama and Muhammed Al-Shebli went into the referee’s book, which means they will be walking a tight rope in the second leg. Last year, Amavubi under former coach Stephen Constantine, eliminated Libya during the qualifiers of Africa Cup of National Qualifiers. The first leg played in Tunisia ended goalless before the home side won 3-0 in May, courtesy of Daddy Birori’s hat-trick. After the second leg 20 winners from the second round will be divided into five groups of four teams, and each group winner will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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Amavubi stars continue poor run