Rwanda sends Eritrea packing in lively Cecafa match

Rwanda’s Kagere Meddie (right) beats Eritrean goalkeeper Abdulahi Abdurahman to score in their Cecafa tournament at Machakos Stadium Thursday. [Photo: Boniface Okendo]

By Daniel Nzia

Machakos, Kenya: After missing the Uganda-Rwanda and Harambee Stars -Zanzibar matches last week, Machakos residents came out in their hundreds to cheer the Rwanda and Eritrea Group C match at Kenyatta stadium Thursday.

Rwanda eliminated Eritrea after beating them 1-0 in a thrilling encounter where both teams displayed good football.

The victors upped their game in the second half and hard-fighting Michel Ndahinduka electrified the fans with a classic goal in the 77th minute which Eritrea goalkeeper Abdulahi Abdurahman failed to save. Eritrea have now joined other teams that have been ousted from this year’s Senior Challenge Cup.

Rwanda would have scored more goals but efforts by Hussein Mugabo and Andrew Butera yielded no fruits.

Butera released a hard shot metres from outside the box, but it was saved by the hawk-eyed Eritrea custodian shortly before the half-time break.

Eritrea’s Serak Beyne would have given his team the match opener after he rounded up Rwanda defenders but he missed his target.

The first half, which ended 0-0, was entertaining, but the losers appeared to lose touch with the ball in the second half when their opponents pinned them in their own half.

Residents praised the Cecafa organisers for bringing the encounter to the town after their disappointment last week following the cancellation of scheduled matches due to heavy rains that pounded Eastern province.

They hope the the organisers will consider Machakos for some of the quarter-final matches.

It is the first time Machakos has hosted international football hence the huge crowds that have been turning up to watch the matches.