Rwanda and Kenya finish their international friendly for Kigali on Monday night with no goal, as the match end 0-0 for Amahoro Stadium. Stephen Constantine line up Rwanda for 4-4-2, while Benni McCarthy arrange Kenya for 4-2-3-1. The game, wey be friendly, no produce winner, but e get plenty tori from both bench and pitch.
Second half end 0-0, and fourth official announce seven minutes of added time. Referee show yellow card to Ryan Ogam of Kenya for bad foul. Marvin Nabwire of Kenya also collect yellow card for bad foul. Mike Kibwage of Kenya enter book for bad foul. Leroy-Jacques Mickels of Rwanda get yellow card for bad foul. Amos Wanjala of Kenya join the yellow card list for bad foul.
Kenya coach Benni McCarthy make changes as the match waka. Frank Odhiambo replace Haniff Wesonga. Mohammed Bajaber replace Stanley Omondi. Ronney Onyango replace Abud Omar. Ben Stanley Omondi replace Chrispine Erambo. Rwanda own coach Stephen Constantine also rotate him squad. Leroy-Jacques Mickels replace Jojea Kwizera. Niyongira Patience replace Adolphe Hakizimana. Claude Niyomugabo replace Elie Iradukunda. Taïba Mbonyumwami replace Innocent Nshuti. Joy-Lance Mickels replace Abeddy Biramahire. Djihad Bizimana replace Samuel Gueulette. Gilbert Byiringiro replace Obed Uwumukiza. Hakim Hamis replace Kévin Muhire.
The match happen for Amahoro Stadium at 7 pm East African Time. Kenya enter the Kigali showdown after 1-1 stalemate with Eritrea and narrow 1-0 defeat to Guinea. McCarthy’s charges arrive Kigali still feeling pain from Conakry heartbreak, where Serhou Guirassy second-half strike condemn Kenya to narrow defeat. The defeat expose Kenya problem for attack, as Kenya enjoy possession but fail to turn control into clear-cut chances.
McCarthy talk say: ‘In the last two matches against Eritrea and Guinea, we had a very good performance and dominated the game, but we need to turn that into goals.’ With 2027 Afcon finals looming, Rwanda friendly give McCarthy another stage to shuffle him pack, assess him options and forge the balance he want for squad wey go continental spotlight. Despite automatic qualification, McCarthy insist say competitive matches still important. ‘Being co-hosts does not give us a free pass to relax,’ he talk.
Monday clash fit bring changes to starting line-up, with Ryan Ogam, Job Ochieng and others knocking hard on door for chance to shine. McCarthy know say e need squad deep enough to withstand the rigours and relentless demands of international football. ‘Every player has to be ready because we need everyone,’ he talk. The coach dey look for greater fluidity without possession, with him players expected to burst into spaces around box and give Kenya attacks movement and unpredictability wey dem sometimes lack. ‘We need to have more movement off the ball and get in the spaces,’ McCarthy talk.
Amavubi arrive with high spirit, their confidence come from perfect start to Afcon qualifiers, where dem sweep aside Liberia and Cape Verde. Amavubi also win four consecutive matches, and that give coach Stephen Constantine confidence before the regional showdown. The Englishman don already indicate say Monday fixture go be used to examine some younger players. ‘So, like with India in 2015, I have had to build from scratch. Which is why in the friendly against Kenya at home, I will look at some young players,’ Constantine talk. That emphasis on development fit into wider rebuilding project under the experienced coach, who return to Amavubi dugout earlier this year.
Constantine don talk openly about need to establish stronger foundation, particularly by creating opportunities for emerging players. ‘There is a lot of work to be done, including focusing on young players, which I believe will help us build a stronger future and achieve our objectives,’ he talk. The hosts go approach the match with confidence after their impressive start. Constantine believe him squad get quality to make significant progress, and he describe the current group as one of strongest he don work with during long coaching career. ‘In more than 30 years of coaching, this is one of the best squads of players I have had,’ he talk.
For Rwanda, the bigger prize remain return to AFCON finals for first time since 2004. Constantine don make that objective clear, while also recognise say road ahead go tougher when Rwanda face Mali twice in November. ‘There are some very difficult games, but we are in a good position. With a bit of luck, we can do this,’ he talk. McCarthy, too, see the current international window as part of longer rebuilding process. The South African want him players to use every opportunity to sharpen understanding of him methods, while maintaining competitive edge required at international level. ‘Our goal for this international window is simple: we want maximum points,’ McCarthy talk.
