PHOTOS: CHAN 2025 Qualifiers: Minnows Djibouti shock Amavubi in Kigali

Striker Gabriel Abeiku Dadzie was the hero of the day as his 79th minute powerful strike helped Djibouti stun Rwanda in a 1-0 victory at Amahoro Stadium on Sunday, October 27. The surprise win in Kigali boosted Djiboutian hopes of progressing to the next and final round of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers as long as they record at least a draw in the second leg due Thursday, October 31 at the same ground. Djobouti hosted their preliminary first leg match in Kigali as they home ground remains banned from hosting international games because it does not meet CAF or FIFA standards. Both teams played the first eight minutes of the game with no particular pattern as they just ballooned the ball all around. The first chance of the game fell to the Djiboutians in the ninth minute when Hassan Hussein found striker Gabriel Dadzie with a through ball, but the latter wasn't fast as Yunusu Nshimiyimana rushed to clear the danger. Rwanda initiated their first attack of the game in the 11th minute. Ramadan Niyibizi was brought down as he tried to meander his way from the right flank but the resultant free kick, few meters away from the Djibouti 18-yard box, went to waste. Amavubi, playing the first leg as visitors, had another free kick in the same position around the Djibouti penalty box after Niyibizi was fouled again in the 29th minute. He himself took free kick but it was saved by goalkeeper Sulait Luyima. ALSO READ: CHAN 2025 Qualifiers: Five players who could decide Djibouti vs Rwanda tie Amavubi wasted a host of chances that could have resulted into goals. First, Olivier Dushimimana stole the ball from Siad Isman in the 34th minute and went on a solo run under pressure from the Djibouti defense and, with goalkeeper Luyima advancing forward to stop him, he shot the ball wide to the dismay of coach Frank Spittler and the rest of Amavubi bench. And later on, more chances were wasted on various occasions as neither of Ramadan Niyibizi, Arsene Tuyisenge or Olivier Dushimimana managed to be clinical in front of goal until both teams headed into half time break with the scores still goalless. Spittler brought on Gilbert Mugisha for Ramadan Niyibizi in the 46th, hoping to change a bit of his tactics. Mugisha brought more power into Amavubi attack with his direct runs down the left flank. He could have broken the deadlock in the 50th minute but he saw his nice curling shot missing the target by inches. The winger again beat his marker two minutes later and drifted to the middle before laying a pass for Kevin Muhire, but the skipper's drive went off target. Spittler’s side was obviously looking ordinary as his attackers weren’t looking sharp in fron t of goal. The German coach brought on Gilbert Byiringiro for Fitina Ombrorenga in the 61st minute as the Rayon Sports star looked so exhausted. Goalkeeper Luyima pulled a great save from a superb drive from Dushimimana in the 65th minute after Byiringiro had gone on an overlapping run on the right flank. Spittler made his third substitution in the 76th minute by bringing on Didier Ndayishimiye for Olivier Dushimimana. While the coach was pushing for an opening goal, it was the opposite side who used one of their very few chances to break the deadlock and silence the traveling but home fans. Dadzie received a superb pass from substitute Hoch Gedo, he shrugged off his marker before firing past Goalkeeper Patient Niyongira to give his side the lead in the 79th minute. Substitute Byiringiro could have drawn even for Rwanda in the 87th minute but his header from a Kevin Muhire’s corner hit the post to the relief of the Djibouti bench. After 90 minutes had elapsed, there was four minutes of injury time added. Djibouti nearly made it 2-0 in the 92nd minute but Gedo saw his close range effort blocked by Clement Niyigena. Djibouti defended gallantly in the final minutes of the game as they run away with a deserved 1-0 win, a shock result for Rwanda who lost their first match at the revamped Amahoro Stadium. The winner of the two leg tie will face either South Sudan and Kenya in a game that will decide the qualification to the AFCON 2025.