Perfect start

As Junior Wasps win opener in Africa U-17 Championship Yesterday Rwanda 2-1 Burkina FasoSenegal 1-2 Egypt Today Gambia vs Congo 1pm (Umuganda Stadium)Cote d’Ivoire vs Mali 3:30pm (Umuganda Stadium) Rwanda’s Junior Wasps made a winning start to the 9th edition of the African Youth U-17 Championship after overcoming Group A rivals Burkina Faso at Amahoro National Stadium on Saturday. The hosts started life with a hard fought but deserved 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso, who finished third in the last edition held in Algeria in 2009. Rayon Sport defender Faustin Usengimana scored the opening goal on 2nd minute with a free header after meeting Charles Tibingana’s floating free kick.Just a minute after recess, Tibingana, who was a constant threat on Amavubi’s right wing, added a second after capitalizing on a defensive mistake by Oumar Fofana on the edge of the penalty box. Faical Ouedraogo scored Burkina Faso’s consolation goal from a spot kick following Michel Rusheshangoga’s foul on Fofana in the forbidden area. The Junior Wasps could have gone into recess ahead by more just the one goal had it not been for good goalkeeping by Burkina Faso’s custodian Seni Ouedraogo.Skipper Emery Bayisenge, Tibingana and Justin Mico, who was later substituted by Barnabe Mubumbyi before the end of the first half with a head injury, were guilty of missing and or wasting a good scoring opportunities . Burkina Faso’s Traore Isidore and Ousmane Nana dominated the midfield but without doing much in terms of threatening Rwanda’s keeper Marcel Nzarora, who was well protected by Usengimana and Bayisenga in the heart of the defence.After recess, Burkina Faso piled more pressure on the hosts and got a penalty which was well converted by Faical Ouedraogo. As the match progressed, Burkina Faso continued to dominate the midfield and the junior wasps’ players looked tired. Ouedraogo hit Nzarora’s cross bar as the West Africans searched for an equalizer. Egypt beat Senegal In the day’s second game, Egypt came from behind to beat Senegal 2-1. Ahmed Ibrahim (67) and Mohammed Rashad (83) scored to ensure a bright start for junior Pharaohs, who are eyeing a place in the finals of the 2011 World Cup finals due in Mexico. Ibrahima Mamwe Ndiaye had put Senegal ahead on 20th minute beating Eslam Saber and Islam Mousa to slot past goalkeeper Hassan Ibrahim. The African championship continues this afternoon as defending champions Gambia open their quest against Congo in Rubavu, Western Province before Cote d’Ivoire plays Mali in the second game. Ends