Heads high despite AYC exit

Tomislav believes in the future of Rwandan football Despite being out of the African Youth Championship, host nation Rwanda have a very good side and deserved to reach the semifinal, that’s the view of the team coach, Obradovic Tomislav. The Croat acknowledges that his team created enough scoring in all their group matches but paid the price for failing to make better use of them. “Rwanda has a good side with a lot of talented players and they even played good football in this tournament despite losing out on a place to the Fifa U-20 World Cup. It’s very unfortunate for everyone connected to the team. “This is a big lesson for us but it will motivate the players and every body involved to prepare and bounce back in African football as strong opponents in future. “We played the last group stage game against Ghana rich in football and it was a good performance and experience as well for Rwanda and the young players who watched from the stands,” Tomislav acknowledged. He warned Rwanda future opponents to beware of his team, which he says has derived a lot of experience from the championship despite the early exit. “To excel in football, handwork and patience are key factors, and I am quite sure that in tow years’ time, Rwandan football would have reached higher levels,” noted the man, who was looking to become the first coach to win the continental trophy for Rwanda. Ghana’s Black Satellites ended Rwanda’s hopes of reaching the tournament’s semi-final, which would also means a place at the next World Youth Championship scheduled for September this year in Egypt. Ghana won the decisive match 2-0 at Amahoro stadium. Rwandans packed the Amahoro Stadium in the numbers, creating a hostile but wonderful atmosphere in anticipation of their country’s qualification for a first ever Fifa World Cup event. They needed to win to stand any chance of overhauling Cameroon and Ghana but that proved too much for the packed stadium which included President Paul Kagame. A game that had been low on high points in the first half came to life half way through the second when the Ghanaians turned on the screws. Isaac Osei who started for Abeiku Quansah exploited it to full effect when he fed Dominic Adiyah well who in turn found his strike partner Ransford Osei. The Israel based striker made no mistake on 68th minute and took one look at goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye before picking his spot at the first post. Rwanda knew with Cameroon winning that they needed a goal but in pouring men forward left spaces at the back.Tomislav threw more men forward but Ghana caught them on the break again and again Donkor was influential. As the Satellites broke down the right from a defensive position, he held up the ball well and waited patiently for Samuel Inkoom’s run. When the Kotoko right back arrived, he fed him well and Inkoom in turn got a wonderful spin on the ball into the Rwanda’s eighteen yard area. Osei was the beneficiary simply nodding the ball into an empty net eleven minutes after. Cameroon also sealed her place to the last four after a 3-0 win over whipping boys Mali played at Nyamirambo stadium. Ghana’s win gave them seven points from three matches and kept their leadership of Group A while Cameroon overtook Rwanda into second place with five points. Rwanda finished third with four points while Mali bottom with no point. Ends

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Heads high despite AYC exit