Rwanda U-23 midfielder Kennedy Hoziana has admitted that the team was disappointed by its home defeat to Cameroon in the first leg of the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers but urged his teammates to learn from their mistakes and bounce back in the return leg. Rwanda suffered a major setback at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Wednesday night, losing 3-0 to the Young Indomitable Lions after second-half goals from Patrick Edzimbi, who scored twice, and Nko Ghangle Rattensi. The result leaves Rwanda with an uphill task as they seek an unlikely comeback in the return leg in Cameroon. However, Hoziana remains determined to fight for a positive result. We need to learn from our mistakes and focus on the return leg. The game in Kigali is behind us, but we still have another opportunity in Cameroon. We will work hard, correct what went wrong and do everything possible to get a positive result, he said. Rwanda's evening was further complicated by an injury to striker Honoré Shingiro, who was forced off in the 26th minute after picking up a knock. He was replaced by Christian Ingabire, disrupting the hosts' attacking plans. The extent of Shingiro's injury remains unclear, with neither FERWAFA nor his club, Kiyovu Sports, having issued an official medical update. His availability for the return leg in Yaoundé is therefore uncertain. Head coach Eric Nshimiyimana acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing his team but felt the result could have been different had Rwanda's goal not been ruled out. We conceded goals at crucial moments, and the disallowed goal was difficult to accept, Nshimiyimana said. Now we have to regroup, analyse our mistakes and prepare for the return leg. A 3-0 defeat makes our task much harder, but we will continue fighting and give our best in Cameroon. Rwanda matched Cameroon for much of the first half, with both sides involved in a closely contested encounter. However, the visitors proved more clinical after the break, capitalising on defensive lapses to secure a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture. The winner of the tie will advance to the next round, where they will face either South Africa or Madagascar for a place at the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
