CHAN 2016: Rwanda and Coach McKinstry win the flagship opening match in front of 30,000 at the Amahoro, Kigali (16 Jan 2016).

Rwanda have defeated the Ivory Coast 1-0 in the CHAN 2016 tournament opener at a packed Amahoro stadium in Kigali.

 

Watched by President Paul Kagame, invited guests, and a crowd of 30,000, the Amavubi opened the game well, applying pressure and with a number of attempts on goal.

 

At 15 minutes, Ivorian defender Gbagnon Badie fouled Jean-Claude IRANZI (12) at the edge of the penalty area. Rwanda took advantage of the resulting free kick and moved ahead following a direct strike on goal from defender Emery BAYISENGE (8).

 

The Amavubi played controlling football for the remainder of the half, seeing a 1-0 score line at half time.

The Ivory Coast emerged for the second half knowing they would need to apply considerable pressure to overturn the score line.

 

Rwanda were however awarded a penalty at the 1 hour mark when captain Jacques TUYISENGE (9) was brought down by the Ivorian defence as he waited in the box to receive a corner.  

It was however not to be when Emery BAYISENGE's strike was saved by ‘Les Elephants’ goalkeeper Ali Badra Sangare.

 

Buoyed by the save, the Ivorian's applied increasing pressure, forcing the Amavubi defence to work. The best the Ivory Coast could manage however came at 89 minutes when a volley from Guiza Djedje hit the upright.

 

The win for the Amavubi placed them at the top of Group A with 3 points.

 

Rwanda now face on Gabon on Wednesday 20th January in the second fixture of Group A at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali.

 

'Man of the Match'

Amavubi Defender Emery BAYISENGE (8) was voted Man of the Match.

 

Squad

Rwanda Team	Substitutes
Eric NDAYISHIMIYE (1) Amran NSHIMIYIMANA (5) Yannick MUKUNZI (6) Emery BAYISENGE (8) Jacques TUYISENGE (9, Cpt) Dany USENGIMANA (10) Jean-Claude IRANZI(12) Fitina OMBORENGA (13) Celestin NDAYISHIMIYE (14) Innocent HABYARIMANA (17) Abdul RWATUBYAYE (22)	Michel RUSHESHANGOGA (2) Mwemere NGIRINSHUTI (3) Djihad BIZIMANA (4) Rashid KALISA (7) Dominique Savio NSHUTI (11) Fuastin USENGIMANA (15) Ernest SUGIRA (16) Olivier KWIZERA (18) Yussufu HABIMANA (19) Hegman NGOMIRAKIZA (20) Fiston MUNEZERO (21) Jean Claude NDORI (23)

 

Post Match Interview with Coach McKinstry

We hear from Coach McKinstry and goalscorer & 'Man of the Match' Emery Bayisenge on their opening CHAN 2016 win against Ivory Coast.

 

 

Match Highlights 

Photo Highlights

You can click any of the pictures below to see a full screen version of the picture.  You can then also choose to click the play arrow to watch a slide show of all images.

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Video Highlights

Match highlights (3:22) courtesy of CAF TV

 

Media

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Download Pictures (for Media Use)

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