Cecafa: Rwanda’s Amavubi lose sting, out of tournament

CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2017- MACHAKOS Rwanda coach Antoine Hey instruct his players against Libya during the CECAFA Senior challenge cup at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Wednesday 07/11/17.[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Rwanda bowed out of the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup with their heads high after beating Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania 2-1 in a Group A match, at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, yesterday.

It is not the type of performance the Tanzanians were expecting following their surprise 2-1 defeat to Zanzibar Heroes on Thursday.

The defeat has complicated Tanzania’s chances even as they play the final group match against hosts Kenya tomorrow.

Rwanda garnered four points from four matches after losing to Kenya (2-0), Zanzibar (3-1) and sharing the spoils with guest team Libya.

“I am very proud of my boys. Yes, we are going home, but we have picked valuable lessons from the tournament.

“It was a good training ground for us ahead of Chan,” said Rwanda coach Antoine Hey.

“Winning Cecafa was not my priority, I just wanted to gauge the players as well as try different combinations. I gave a chance to all the players and I think we now have a picture on how our team will look like.”

Amavubi went ahead through Innocent Nshuti’s 19th minute strike. However, his celebrations were short lived as Daniel Lyanga leapt high to head home Abdul Hassan’s cross.

But substitute Biramahire Abbedy restored the lead for Hey’s side in the 66th minute when he easily tapped the ball into an empty net from Omborenga Fitina’s brilliant cross on the right.

However, Tanzania will have themselves to blame for wasting a host of scoring opportunities with Rugwiro Herve’s long range effort in the 78th minute  hitting the crossbar.[Rodgers Eshitemi]