The Rwanda national football team, led by coach Torsten Frank Spittler and captain Djihad Bizimana, faced a tough challenge in their quest for a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In their first of two crucial qualifiers against Benin, played today on 11 October in Abidjan, Rwanda suffered a 3-0 defeat that highlighted both their weaknesses and the obstacles they must overcome in the return leg.
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Key Highlights of the Match
Benin opened the scoring early, with striker Steve Mounie finding the back of the net in the 7th minute, leaving the Rwandan defense struggling to contain the fast-paced attack. Despite Rwanda managing to hold on for the rest of the first half, the second half saw Benin pile on the pressure, with A. Hountondji scoring the second goal in the 67th minute and H. Imourane sealing the win just three minutes later at the 70th minute.
Rwanda’s performance was further hampered by injuries to key players. Defender Thierry Manzi was forced off in the 37th minute, with Clement Niyigena coming on as his replacement. The second half saw more unfortunate substitutions, with Innocent Nshuti replaced by Mbonyumwami Taiba in the 48th minute, and winger Jojea Kwizera exiting in the 59th minute due to injury, making way for Samuel Gueulette. Coach Spittler also made tactical changes in the final quarter, bringing on Steve Rubanguka and Ramadhan Niyibizi for Kevin Muhire and Djihad Bizimana, respectively.
Despite these adjustments, Rwanda struggled to break Benin’s defense and mount any significant attacks, while Benin’s star player Steve Mounie was named the player of the match for his dominant performance.
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
Rwanda will have a chance to redeem themselves on 15 October when they face Benin again, this time at home at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. The team will be looking to regroup and put up a stronger fight as they keep their hopes alive for qualifying for AFCON 2025, which will be held in Morocco. Rwanda has not qualified for the prestigious tournament since 2004, and this year represents a crucial opportunity for the national team to make a historic return.
As the team prepares for the second leg, coach Spittler and his squad will need to reflect on their performance, address their weaknesses, and ensure that they are in top form to take on Benin at home. With the support of the fans in Kigali and the motivation to bring Rwanda back to the continental stage, the team will be determined to fight for victory.
