Rwanda and Tanzania play a draw

Jacques Tuyisenge of Rwanda

Tuesday Oct 15, 2019. 11:00

Rwanda and Tanzania warmed up for next month’s kick off of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a goalless draw in their friendly international at Kigali on Monday.

The home side, who were also using the game as a tune-up for the CHAN-2020 qualifier this weekend against Ethiopia, had started brightly controlling possession for much of the first half but failed to convert their chances.

Captain Haruna Niyonzima squandered a freekick opportunity after the break.

Only two foreign-based players were called up for the home line-up and Tanzania-based Meddie Kagere and Jacques Tuyisenge, who plays his club football in Angola, were only used in the first half.

They were replaced by Djabel Manishimwe and Ernest Sugira in the second half as coach Vincent Mashami then used the team that he will likely field on Saturday when Rwanda take on Ethiopia in the return leg of their CHAN-2020 qualifier. Rwanda are already 1-0 up from the away leg.

Tanzania’s caretaker coach Etienne Ndayiragije also had an eye on their CHAN-2020 qualifier in Sudan on Friday.