Rwanda has taken the summit of Group A with three points after defeating Mali 2-1 in the opener of the 16th African Youth Championship started over the weekend at Amahoro stadium. Group favourites Ghana played a 1-all draw against Cameroon and earned a point each while Mali lays bottom of the table with no point.Rwanda earned her victory courtesy of Jean Mugiraneza and Elias Uzamukunda on 7th and 71st minutes of the match respectively .Mali got the consolation from Sow Samba. Though the 2-1 victory over the West Africans was much celebrated in Kigali since Sunday, Rwanda needs to rectify her defensive and midfield blunders if her campaign of reaching the semi-finals of the African Youth Championship is to be accomplished. The central defensive make-up of Aimable Rucogoza and Arafat Serugendo needs to get enough briefing from coach Obradovic Tomislav ahead of today’s crunch tie against Cameroon. Tomislav needs to move skipper Haruna Niyonzima into the central midfield. The APR ace is normally at his best through in the middle. If the coach can have his central defence partnership working, and Mugiraneza and Uzamukunda reproducing their form against Mali in the remaining two matches then they should fancy their chances. Mali’s progress to the next round will require them to win the remaining fixtures against Ghana and Cameroon. Ghana are Group A favourite to reach the next round considering the kind of football displayed against Cameroon in the opener. But Cameroon too can not be counted out before today’s game against Rwanda. Ends
