Rwanda in CHAN quarter-final

African Nations Championship host, Rwanda, booked their place in the quarter-finals of the tournament with a 2-1 win over Gabon at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali yesterday.

Striker Ernest Sugira scored both goals in the 42nd and 47th minutes to put the hosts comfortably ahead before Gabon pulled one back in the 55th minute through Aaron Boupendza.

The win is Amavubi’s second in the 2016 CHAN, following their 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast on the opening day, and ensures that they will finish in the top two of Group A. However, they were given some scares in the final quarter of the match by a 10-man Panthers team that simply refused to give in.

There were few clear scoring chances created in a first half which was dominated by Rwanda. The hosts had to wait until the 42nd minute to break the deadlock, with Ernest Sugira latching onto a loose ball in the box before beating Yves Moto with a low shot.

Sugira made it 2-0 just a couple of minutes into the second half, cutting inside a challenge in the box before firing the ball into the top corner via the stinging palms of Moto, who did all he could to try and keep the shot out.

Gabon, who by this stage had made all three substitutions, looked dead and buried but they were gifted a lifeline in the 55th minute when goalkeeper Eric Ndayishimiye flapped at a cross from Mario Mandrault, allowing Aaron Boupendza to score with a header.— MTN