Rwanda picked up a 1-1 draw against Mali to dent the West African chances of qualifying to the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers last night at the Bamako International Stadium.
Meddie Kagere scored Amavubi’s goal as Rwanda denied Mali a win yesterday at Bamako International stadium. The New Times / T. Kisambira
Striker Meddie Kagere put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute before Mali battled for an equaliser which came in the 77th minute through Mahamadou Ndiaye.
Mali needed a win at all costs to ensure that their dreams of making it to the World cup remain alive with two matches to go in the Group stage qualifying.
However it will be Algeria with better chances as they stretched their lead at the top of the Group to nine points while Amavubi remain rooted at the bottom.
With two points, Rwanda can only manage a maximum of six points if they win the remaining two matches against Algeria at home and away to Benin.
Amavubi started the match on a slow and were almost made to pay as early as the fourth minute but Mahamadou Samassa’s shot went wide.
In the 15th minute, Mahamadou Ndiaye saw his attempt go inches wide as the Rwandan defensive looked comfortable in the match. The game was restricted to Rwanda’s half as the Malians took comfort in passing the ball around.
However, the home side gradually came back into the match and they started commanding play. The Amavubi would keep the momentum till the breather but their pressure would not add to a goal as they lacked firepower at the front though Coach Eric Nshimiyimana led with Karekezi and Kagere.
In the 34th minute, Kagere earned the lead when defender Ndiaye Mahamadou misjudged a header in the goal area to leave the Police striker a chance to neatly finish past Soumalia Diakite.
In the second half, Haruna Niyonzima received matching orders from Tunisian referee Med Said Kordi for a second bookable offense following his foul on Ndiaye.
Haruna’s sending off seemed to have reduced Rwanda’s strength in midfield as the Yanga star was less effective in his bulldozing efforts and hardworking runs that commanded the middle of the pack for Amavubi.
Substitute Mana Dembele chipped a ball in the penalty area which Ndiaye put to good use as he stretched a powerful header past Ndoli to snatch an equaliser for Mali in the 77th minute.
The Eagles tried harder to salvage full points from the match but the Rwandan defense remained steadfast with Ndoli denying the late minute efforts.
Algeria bolster chances
Algeria bolstered their chances of moving to the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers by consolidating their lead in Group H after a 3-1 defeat against the Squirrels yesterday at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo.
Rudy Gestede thrilled his home crowd with the opener in the 31st minute but Islam Slimani reacted in the 38th and 42nd minutes before the last nail on the casket by Nabil Ghilas in the 78th minute.
The Desert Foxes top Group H with nine points while Mali are second on 7 points, Benin are third on four points while Rwanda are bottom with two points.
Line ups:
Mali: Soumalia Diakite, Fousseiny Diawara, Adama Tamboura, Adama Coulibaly [Salif Coulibaly], Abdou Traore, Mahamadou Samassa, Seydou Keita, Tongo Doumbia, Sigamary Diarra, Samba Sow [Mana Dembele] and Mahamadou Ndiaye.
Rwanda: Jean Claude Ndoli, Fabrice Twagizimana, Abouba Sibomana, Andrew Buteera [Jean Baptista Mugiraneza], Salomon Nirisarike, Faustin Usengimana, Michel Rusheshangoga, Meddie Kagere, Haruna Niyonzima, Olivier Karekezi and Jean Claude Iranzi [Patrick Sibomana].
2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Group H, Yesterday
Benin 1-3 Algeria
Mali 1-1 Rwanda
By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times
