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Rwanda beat Gabon to qualify for 2016 CHAN quarter final

Xinhua, January 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Hosts Rwanda stormed the quarter finals at the on-going 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) as the Amavubi as the Rwanda national team is known beat Gabon 2-1 in a Group A match played at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Wednesday.

Coach Johnathan McKinstry's team qualified with six points after they also won the first game against Cote d'Ivoire 1-0. They will wait to face Morocco in the last group game.

Ernest Sugira netted a brace for the home side with his first coming in the 42nd minute with a hard shot past the Gabon goalkeeper Yves Stephane Bitseki Moto.

Rwanda went into recess maintaining their lead with lots of support coming from over 25,000 fans.

Sugira was on target again after 47 minutes after capitalizing on a well taken cross from substitute Dominique Savio Nshuti.

The Gabon team however re-organised themselves and attacked in number as they pinned Rwanda in their own half.

Aaron Salem Boupendza pulled one back for the Gabon team after 55 minutes with a close finish, but the visitors were reduced by one player after three minutes. Midfielder Tchen Djesnot Kabi was sent off after picking a second yellow card.

Cyrille Saint Etienne Engozo Avebe kept troubling the Rwanda defenders but to no avail as they looked for an equalizer.

"The boys have worked hard to get us to the quarter finals before even playing the next group match," said a happy Rwanda coach McKinstry after the game. Endit