Morocco hold Rwanda in Genocide Memorial tie

Rwanda and Morocco Under-20 national football teams played a 1-all draw in the 2016 Genocide Memorial Match played on Saturday at Amahoro Stadium.

The game was played as part of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA)’s commemoration of the over one million lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Junior Wasps team was spiced up by sons of President Paul Kagame, Ian Kigenza Kagame and Bryan Cyizere Kagame who made their maiden debut for Rwanda national team.
Prior to the start of the game, Rwanda skipper Savio Dominique Nshuti, Morocco skipper Regradui Hamza and Ian Kigenza Kagame read key messages in Kinyarwanda, French and English to fans who were in attendance to honour this year’s Genocide Memorial Match.

Striker Blaise Itangishaka put Rwanda ahead in the 1st minute as he powered a long shot past goalie Sidki Achraf following a defensive miscommunication from Morocoo U20 pair of Dari Achraf and Grib Aziz.

Morocco mounted pressure on hosts for an equalizer with entertaining midfielder Fadiz Othman and Hannouri Hamza forcing Rwanda U20 goalie Hategikimana Bonheur to make superb saves.
Grib Aziz and Youssoufi El Mahdi had their attempts saved by Hategikimana while Savio Nshuti Dominique proved a thorn for Morocco U20 defence.

Coach Kayiranga Jean Baptista made an early substitution in the 27th minute when he brought in Park Udahemuka for Ian Kigenza Kagame to beef up the team’s attacking options.

Morocco snatched an equalizer in the 43rd minute when Hicham Boussoufiane equalized from Dari Achraf cross with both teams heading into recess tied on a 1-all draw.

At the start of the second half, Morocco U20 coach Dutchman Mark Wotte beefed up his side with five substitutions namely; Sioudi Aissa, Abdelhadi Boumzairig, Mohamed Elmorabit, Anass Nouader and Anas Jabroun respectively.

Wotte later substituted Maati Tamayazou for goalscorer Hicham Boussoufiane.

On the otherhand, Coach Kayiranga Jean Baptiste also introduced Jean Paul Ahoyikuye for Amani Niyonkuru, Olivier Nsabimana for Park Udahemuka, Bryan Cyizere Kagame for Djabel Manishimwe, Abeddy Biramahire for Jacques Ntwari, Kimenyi Kakira for captain Dominique Savio Nshuti and Sadjati Niyonkuru for Vedaste Niyibizi respectively.

Both sides played an offensive game but none could find the net for a winning goal thus ending the game in a 1-all draw in normal time.

Rwanda U-20: Hategekimana Bonheur, Sibomana Arafati, Nsabimana Aimable, Yamini Salum, Niyonkuru Amani, Manishimwe Djabel, Ntwari Jacques, Niyibizi Vedaste, Itangishaka Blaise, Nshuti Savio Dominique, Kagame Kigenza Ian.

Morocco U-20:

Sidki Achraf, Bahaj Hamza, Dari Achraf, Boutouil Abdelmounam, Ghrib Aziz, Bach Anas, Boussoufiane Hicham, Regragui Hamza, Hannouri Hamza, Fadiz Othman, Youssoufi