Rwanda fight back to beat Cape Verde Islands in Afcon qualifying

Rwanda came from behind to beat Cape Verde Islands 2-1 in Match Round 2 of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, recovering from Gilson Benchimol Tavares’ first-half opener to secure an important victory.

Cape Verde Islands

• Josimar José Évora Dias
• Wagner Fabrício Cardoso Pina
• Logan Evans Costa
• Edilson Alberto Monteiro Sanches Borges
• Sidny Lopes Cabral
• Kevin Lenini Gonçalves Pereira de Pina
• Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça
• Telmo Emanuel Gomes Arcanjo
• José Luís Rocha Tavares
• Ayoni Santos
• Gilson Benchimol Tavares

Rwanda

• Fiacre Ntwari
• Jimmy Ange Mutsinzi
• Phanuel Kavita
• Claude Niyomugabo
• Bonheur Mugisha
• Joy-Lance Mickels
• Leroy-Jacques Mickels

Substitutions:

Cape Verde Islands

• Ayoni Santos (Nuno Miguel da Costa Jóia, 62)
• José Luís Rocha Tavares (Jovane Eduardo Borges Cabral, 62)
• Ryan Isaac Mendes da Graça (Dailon Rocha Livramento do Rosario, 75)
• Telmo Emanuel Gomes Arcanjo (Jamiro Gregory Monteiro Alvarenga, 75)
• Gilson Benchimol Tavares (Garry Mendes Rodrigues, 85)

Rwanda

• Bonheur Mugisha (Jojea Kwizera, 69)
• Leroy-Jacques Mickels (Noam Fritz Emeran, 69)
• Joy-Lance Mickels
• Bonheur Mugisha

Ball possession:

Cape Verde Islands took the lead in the 40th minute when Benchimol Tavares found the net. Rwanda responded just before half-time, with Claude Niyomugabo scoring in the 45th minute to make it 1-1.

Passes:

Rwanda then scored again to complete the comeback, although the supplied match data does not identify the winning goalscorer or the exact time of the decisive goal.

Defense:

The result gives Rwanda a notable away win in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, while Cape Verde Islands will be disappointed after failing to protect their lead.

Face-to-face:

Cape Verde Islands were more threatening in front of goal according to the match statistics. They recorded 10 shots on target compared with Rwanda’s four. The data also lists 454 Cape Verde Islands attempts in the “on goal” category, against 157 for Rwanda.

Fouls:

• Yellow cards:
• Kevin Lenini Gonçalves Pereira de Pina (Cape Verde Islands) at 37 minute
• Bonheur Mugisha (Rwanda) at 24 minute
• Joy-Lance Mickels (Rwanda) at 51 minute
• Jimmy Ange Mutsinzi (Rwanda) at 58 minute

The last five games (including this match):

• Cape Verde Islands – L
• Rwanda – W

Top 5 Africa Cup of Nations – Qualification scorers:

1. E. Colley (3, Gambia)
2. None (3, Mauritius)
3. Hazem Mastouri (2, Tunisia)
4. Chamito (2, Mozambique)
5. Franculino Djú (2, Guinea-Bissau)

Line-ups:

Next games:

• Cape Verde Islands will play with Liberia. November 11 at 17:00 (GMT), on None.
• Rwanda will play with Mali. November 11 at 17:00 (GMT), on None.