First legUganda 3-0 Rwanda

Aug. 19: Second legRwanda vs Uganda

Rwanda will need to be at their best in the second leg of the 2018 CHAN qualifiers next week after losing the first leg 3-0 to Uganda Cranes at Mary’s Kitende Stadium in Kampala yesterday.

Cranes striker Muzamir Mutyaba scored a brace while Derrick Nsibambi added another to give the Cranes a commanding lead heading into the second leg next Saturday in Kigali which means Amavubi coach Antoine Hey is yet to record a win in 4 competitive matches.

Uganda dominated the game from start with Mutyaba giving the hosts the lead in the 18th minute from a spot kick after Burundian referee Pacifique Ndabihahwenimana ruled that Amavubi center-back Thierry Manzi had brought him down in the penalty area.

The hosts continued to cause all sorts of problems in-front of the Amavubi goal area, and in the 25th minute, Mutyaba added a second after midfielder Yannick Mukunzi failed to clear a loose ball in the penalty box.

Amavubi continued to make mistakes in defence and were made to pay by Nsibambi in the 49th minute.

Hey’s team reacted well to going down 3-0 and started to put together a few good passes and they pressed further up the field in search for a consolation goal which never came. strikers Dominique Savio Nshuti and Bernabe Mubumbyi missed two half chances.

On the 70th minute, Hey brought on Christophe ‘Abeddy’ Biramahire for Mubumbyi and Kevin Muhire in place of Olivier Seif Niyonzima but that didnot help much as the hosts kept their discipline in defence. 

Left back Emmanuel Imanishimwe had Amavubi’s best scoring chance when he went past two Ugandan defenders but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Ismael Watenga.

Savio Kabungo, Bernard Mwanga and Watenga were shown yellow cards for Uganda while Mubumbyi and defender Aimable Rucogoza also went into the referee’s book.

Rwanda will need to score three or more goals in the second leg at Kigali Stadium to have any chance of qualifying for CHAN that will be held in Kenya next year.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw