Rwanda lose to Benin in final match

DEPLETED Amavubi team extended their heartbreaking performances as they lost to Benin 2-0 in the final Group H match away in Porto Novo to end the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign on an acerbic note. Poor defending from Salomon Nirisarike and Faustin Usengimana enabled Benin to find the net early in the 36th minute through a brilliant strike from Dynamo Dresden striker, Mickael Pote before MSK Zilina Bello Babatunde doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. The result means Rwanda finish bottom of Group H with two points, while the Squirrels move up to eight points. Both Rwanda and Benin had only pride to play for after they came into the final game of their group stage having already been eliminated from the chance of making the qualifying play-offs. The Amavubi team came into the game on a dismal run of just two draws out of five fixtures, while their counterparts fared only slightly better with two wins and stalemates to their name respectively. As time passed, Eric Nshimiyimana’s side went for an offensive approach but it proved to be detrimental as Benin put on a solid defensive lock but Meddie Kagere and Michel Ndahinduka had two of their attempts put at bay by experienced goalie Saturnin Allagbe. Benin has eight points and can still finish in second place if Algeria beats Mali on Tuesday. Algeria has already clinched the top spot and will head to the third round where it will face another group winner in a two-legged contest. The winner will move on to the World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer. With six matches played, Rwanda has two points and -9 goals conceded. The massive goal differential has a lot to do with the team’s 4-0 loss to Algeria in the opening game. Amavubi then drew 1-1 with Benin before losing 2-1 against Mali. In its fourth game, Rwanda drew 1-1 with Mali before losing 1-0 against Algeria in May. A seeded September 16 draw in Cairo, based on FIFA rankings to be released Thursday, will create five two-leg ties with the winners going to the finals in Brazil.

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Rwanda lose to Benin in final match