Amavubi forward Jacques Tuyisenge equalised for Rwanda to pick maiden point in Group H encounter against Guinea
Amavubi forward Jacques Tuyisenge scored the equalizing goal for Amavubi as Rwanda hosted Guinea Conakry in the return leg of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ Qualifier on Tuesday at Stade de Kigali.
Skipper Tuyisenge struck a second half equalizing goal off an assist from team mate Kagere Meddie to cancel out a first half goal for Guinea which was scored by Jose Kanté Martinez.
Following last week’s 2-0 loss to Guinea Conakry, the draw has secured Mashami Vincent’s side which has struggled to make an impact in the on-going qualifying campaign.
Rwanda remains bottom placed in Group H with one point in four matches played so far while group leaders Guinea have gone to ten points. Cote d’Ivoire remains second in Group H with seven points while Central Africa Republic are placed third on four points.
After today’s crucial tie Amavubi will then host third placed Central Africa Republic on November 18, 2018 in Huye district before winding up their group matches away to Ivory Coast on March 22, 2019.
Guinea recorded three successive victories following wins over Ivory Coast, Central African Republic and then Rwanda to seal their Afcon qualification.
In the other Group H encounter tonight, Ivory Coast and Central African Republic played to a goalless draw at Complexe Sportif Barthelemy Boganda in Bangui.
The result after the fourth match day of the qualifying campaign can’t guarantee any passage to next year’s continental tournament. As it stands, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire are the only Group H teams which will earn automatic slots to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Elsewhere, A goal from Thailand-based Njiva Rakotoharimalala sent Madagascar to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The 26-year-old midfielder scored the only goal of the game just before half-time as the Malagasy beat visiting Equatorial Guinea.
The result puts Madagascar on ten points in Group A to guarantee them a place in Cameroon next year.
Senegal will join them in the finals if they can win in Sudan later on Tuesday.
The game was played in the city of Vontovorona after Madagascar was banned from using the Mahamasina Stadium in Antananarivo for “three matches or three months”.
The suspension was imposed by the Confederation of Africa Football following a stampede at the national stadium in September, when one person was killed and nearly 40 others were injured.
Madagascar becomes the 40th different nation to qualify for the Nations Cup finals.
There were two drawn matches in Group B as Comoros grabbed a 2-2 against visiting Morocco and Malawi held Cameroon to a goalless draw in Blantyre.
El Fardou Ben Mohamed, who plays for Serbian side Red Star Belgrade, opened the scoring after just eight minutes to give Comoros a shock lead.
In other matches played today, Malawi drew 0-0 with Cameroon in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification Group B at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Tuesday.
As a result, the Flames remained third on the group standings, while the Indomitable Lions also remained at the top of the table.
Comoros held Morocco to a 2-2 draw in the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualification Group B match at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh in Mitsamiouli on Tuesday.
The draw saw Les Coelacantes and the Atlas Lions remain third, and second respectively on the group standings.
Egypt have closed in on qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after they defeated eSwatini (Swaziland) 2-0 at the Mavuso Sports Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
The result takes the Pharaohs to nine points in Group J, level with leaders Tunisia. Should the Carthage Eagles avoid defeat in their match away to Niger later today, then both North African heavyweights will have secured a berth in next year’s finals.
Tuesday Results
Rwanda 1-1 Guinea
Central Africa Republic 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire
Seychelles 0-0 South Africa
Eswatini (Swaziland) 0-2 Egypt
Comoros 2-2 Morocco
Malawi 0-0 Cameroon
Tanzania 2-0 Cape Verde
