Amavubi held by Benin

Sunday resultsRwanda 1-1 BeninTanzania 2-1 GambiaNamibia 1-0 KenyaEthiopia 2-0 CARLesotho 0-0 SudanDR Congo 2-0 TogoSaturdayBotswana 1-1 South AfricaGabon 1-0 Burkina FasoCongo 1-0 NigerUganda 1-1 SenegalEq.Guinea 2-2 Sierra LeoneRwanda’s Amavubi Stars came from behind to register a well deserved 1-1 draw against Benin in the 2014 World Cup qualifier played yesterday at Amahoro stadium.The result follows a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Group H favorites Algeria in the opening qualifier played last weekend.Benin took the lead through their star striker Razak Omotoyossi, who profited from a defensive misunderstanding between Eric Gasana and Salomon Nirisarike to score past goalie Jean Claude Ndoli on 73rd minute.However, the homes side that enjoyed the upper hand for most the match, equalised with five minutes to go when substitute striker Bokota Labama won and converted a penalty.Amavubi dominated for the game for large parts and could have won had it not been for poor finishing by the strikers. Earlier on the hosts suffered a first half blow when Elias Uzamukunda aggravated his knee with 25 minutes and was replaced by Dady Birori.In several of goal opportunities wasted by Amavubi, Fabrice Twagizimana had a goal denied by the goal post; Uzamukunda failed to score a header off a perfect Haruna Niyonzima’s cross while Meddie Kagere had a goal-bound shot saved by Jordan Adeoti as the home team dominated the first half.Right full-back Steven Godfroid impressed on his debut for Amavubi.Benin play maker and captain Stephane Sessegnon was disappoint for his team as Amavubi Stars dominated the midfield.Both teams played an open game, with the intent to win a game which the hosts bossed but failed to out to better use all the chances they created. Olivier Karekezi was replaced by Bokota Labama whose speed and dribbling skills cause all sorts of problems of the Benin defenders.Many more chances were created and wasted in the second half with Kagere, Birori and Bokota all failing to find the back of the net.The game erupted into nasty scenes with five minutes to go when Amavubi were awarded a penalty which was converted by Bokota, who had been fouled inside the box.Khaled Adenon Abou was so angry with the decision that he attacked the Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weysa who had no option but to send him off. It needed Police intervention to stop the ugly scene from escalating further.Khaled may be slapped a lengthy ban if Fifa reviews yesterday’s incident.With another group H encounter between Mali and Algeria yet to be played by press time, Rwanda earned a point to move to third position while Benin tops the group with four points.Starting line-upsRwanda: Jean Claude Ndoli, Fabrice Twagizimana, Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Meddie Kagere, Salomon Nirisarike, Haruna Niyonzima, Eric Gasana (Mugiraneza Jean), Olivier Karekezi (Bokota Labama), Jean Claude Iranzi, Steven Godfroid, Elias Uzamukunda (Dady Birori).Benin: Fabien Farnulle, Khaled Adenon, Djiman Koukou, Jordan Adeoti, Romuald Bocco (Kobena Nouhoum), Razak Omotoyossi, Michael Pote, Arsene Menessou, Anicet Adjamossi, Stephane Sessegnon, Jocelyn Ahoueya (Maiga Gariga Abou).

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Amavubi held by Benin