Rwanda will have to beat Benin in Wednesday’s ‘make or break’ AFCON qualifier at Kigali Pele Stadium to keep their chances of qualifying for the Africa’s biggest football fiesta in Côte D ‘Ivoire in January 2024.
Amavubi held the Cheetahs to a 1-1 draw during the pair’s first leg encounter in Cotonou and now have two points from three games so far. A win on Wednesday will see them leapfrog Mozambique and climb to second with five points hoping that Senegal defeat the Mozambicans in Maputo.
Times Sport takes a look at five things Rwanda can do to beat Benin:
Play with pace and ball possession
The players who will be featuring for Rwanda on Wednesday should take a cue from what Hakim Sahabo did in Cotonou. The teenager hardly wasted time on the ball and his quick thinking resulted in the first goal after turning inside the centre circle, he located Gilbert Mugisha who was already on the run with a superb 40-yard pass.
Benin players are very strong and play with great physique. If Carlos Ferrer’s men decide to hold on to the ball, the tendency that they will be deprived of it is very high. They just have to move the ball quickly to vital areas.
Put the brakes on Steve Mounie
Benin have struggled in the qualifiers, having managed a draw in their last three matches. But, in Mounie, they have a formidable striker who has a knack for scoring goals.
The forward, who plays for Brest in the French Ligue 1, showed his predatory instinct in the reverse fixture where he netted an 82nd minute equalizer for the Cheetahs.
The likes of Thierry Manzi and Ange Mutsinzi must better be ready to cope with the striker’s attacking threat for 90 minutes.
Avoid mistakes at the back
In the first leg, the Rwandan back four together with goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari were superb as they held the Benin attackers.
Ntwari made as many as five excellent saves to deny Benin whereas Omborenga Fitina also cleared a ball off the goal line. They have unfinished business in Kigali as Ferrer expects them to come to the party again if Rwanda is to win the match in Kigali.
Fill in Sahabo’s void
Before being sent off in the first leg for a second yellow card in the 60th minute, 17-year-old Hakim Sahabo was the best player on the pitch. His absence in Wednesday’s clash will undoubtedly be felt.
Ferrer could, however, deploy Gefle midfielder Rafael York to take up the forward’s position. The player, who represented Sweden at youth level before switching allegiance to Rwanda where his mother was born, has always shown his versatility.
He can play in every position on the field despite being primarily a left winger. With his creativity and ability to give the final pass and also score goals, he could perfectly fit in Sahabo’s role and make an impact in the game just like the youngster did in Cotonou.
Attackers should be clinical
Ferrer has been struggling to get his attack firing and he has often lamented over their efficiency in front of goal.
The team always creates decent chances but putting the ball at the back of the net has been a problem. Whether the Amavubi gaffer will stick with the front three of Meddie Kagere, Bienvenue Mugenzi and Gilbert Mugisha or bring in Glen Habimana and Yannick Bizimana, whoever he will give a chance will have to prove their worth, be prolific and bang in the goals.