Rwanda fight back to deny Senegal

Rwanda fought back to hold Senegal to a 1-1 draw in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group L match played at Stade Huye in Butare on Saturday night.

The result saw Amavubi wrap up an unsuccessful qualifying campaign with a draw and they finished fourth on the group standings with three points accumulated from three draws.

Senegal, on the other hand, had fielded their B team as they had already qualified for the 2023 Afcon finals and they finished at the top of the group standings, four points clear of second-placed Mozambique.

Amavubi were able to contain the African champions in the first half with TS Galaxy goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari not seriously tested in the Rwanda goal-posts and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

An entertaining second half followed as Mamadou Lamine Camara beat Ntwari with a decent finish in the 66th minute to hand Senegal a 1-0 lead with Cheikh Tidiane Sidibe providing the assist.

Amara Diouf was then introduced in the 71st minute and the 2023 Under-17 Afcon Golden Boot award winner became the youngest player to play for Senegal at the age of 15 years, three months and two days.

However, Rwanda fought back and they managed to grab a late equalising goal through Olivier Niyonzima, who netted in stoppage time after being set up by Christian Ishimwe and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Senegal 1 (M.L Camara 66')

Rwanda 1 (Niyonzima 90'+6)

SENEGAL: Sy, Sidibé, Ndiaye, Sané, O. Diouf, Sabaly (A. Diouf 71'), Diop (Diongu 86'), M.L Camara, Diba (Kane 70'), Sambou (Faye 79'), P. Diallo (Gueye 86').

RWANDA: Ntwari, Omborenga, Mutsinzi, Ishimwe, Mitima, Bizimana (Hakizimana 77'), Mugisha (Niyibizi 70'), Niyonzima, Ruboneka, Nshuti (Mugisha 74'), Byiringiro