Rwanda reach CHAN quarters majestically as Uganda learn their soccer lesson hard-way

LIMBE, Cameroon

The Amavubi of Rwanda have stormed the quarter final stage at the on-going Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2020 after a hard fought 3-2 win against Togo on Tuesday night as Morocco secure the quarter-finals place  beating Uganda 5-2 in Douala.

Coach Vincent Mashami’s team fought their hearts out to win the Group C match played at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium and finish second in the Group with 5 points behind Morocco with 7 points.

The match started at a low tempo before Rwanda’s skipper Jacques Tuyisenge put to waste a good scoring opportunity after 19 minutes when he blasted out from close range.

Togo also had Kokouvi Amekoudi miss the target. After 38 minutes of play skipper Yendoutie Nane gave Togo the lead after finishing off a well taken Ismail Ouro-Agoro cross.

But Rwanda quickly regrouped and attacked in numbers before Olivier Niyonzima nodded in Emery Bayisenge’s well taken free kick at the stroke of half time to make it 1-1.

In the second half poor defending cost Rwanda again when Bilal Akoro was given space to slide in past goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera to make it 2-1 for Togo.

But the 2016 quarter finalists Rwanda fought back before skipper Tuyisenge nodded in past the Togo goalkeeper Abdoul Moubarak Aigba after 60 minutes.

Later Ernest Sugira who replaced Dominique Savio Nshuti in the second half made it 3-2 for Rwanda after 66 minutes when he dribbled past two defenders and slotted the ball in the net.

It was pressure in the remaining quarter of the game as the two teams continued creating several scoring opportunities. Kparo Jarry Ahoro had his shot from close range blocked, while Rwanda’s Martin Fabrice Twizerimana also had his effort stopped.

Rwanda will now wait to play Group D's top team in the last quarter final match on January 31st at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium.

Title title holders Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the TOTAL African Nations Championship (CHAN) when beating Uganda 5-2 in Douala on Tuesday.

A second-half revival by the Atlas Lions secured their emphatic victory at the Stade de la Réunification to ensure they finish top of Group C.

The result means the Cranes crash out of the competition as they finish top of the group with just one point after three matches in the group.

Two goals by Soufiane Rahimi and further strikes by Ayoub El Kaabi, Hamza El Moussaoui, and an own goal by goalkeeper Charles Lukwago steered the Atlas Lions to the victory.

Midfielders Ibrahim Orit and Saidi Kyeyune scored for the Ugandans but their efforts were not enough to prevent them from the heavy defeat.

The Altas Lions will play the second-placed team in Group D in the quarter-finals to be played at the the Stade de la Réunification in Douala on Sunday.