The national football team, Amavubi put up a great showing on Friday as they held the Walia Ibex of Ethiopia to a goalless draw at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania in a 2023 CHAN qualifier. With the draw in the away game, Amavubi has put a strong foot forward as they hope to finish off the work on September 3 at the Huye Stadium and make it to the CHAN for the fifth time. Times Sport takes a look at four things we learnt from the encounter. Carlos Alos is building a strong back-line Under the Spanish gaffer, the Amavubi have gone 270 minutes in three games conceding just two goals with one of them being a late penalty (against Senegal) and the other from open play against Mozambique. Despite the team not recording a win yet as they have drawn two games and lost one, they have been superb as you can see they are playing to a pattern. It will not take long for the wins to come as they keep improving each game under Carlos Alos. Amavubi needs a ruthless striker upfront The current Amavubi team is very solid at the back and the midfield is also good but the real problem has been goal scoring. If the Amavubi can get a lethal weapon upfront who can convert even half chances they are good to go as the midfield and defense is playing well. Haruna Niyonzima still has a lot to offer Despite getting to the twilight of his career, skipper Haruna Niyonzima still possesses that midas touch and he is by far the most naturally gifted Rwandan midfielder ever. He ran a one man show last Friday and remained arguably the best player on the pitch before being substituted in the 87th minute. Haruna was one player the Ethiopians could not contain on the field as he caused problems for them every time he had the ball. Tuyisenge shows signs of brilliance Jacques Tuyisenge who came into the game in the second half for Jean Bertrand Iradukunda showed glimpses of his quality with his direct attacking play. He was able to run behind the defence of Ethiopia a couple of times and his general performance was very encouraging considering the fact that he has been out of the national team for some time. If Tuyisenge starts in the second leg on September 3, he can be the deciding factor for the Amavubi in the game.
