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Fifa Friendly matches

Wednesday results

Rwanda 2-2 Uganda

Tanzania 1-0 Cameroon

Libya 0-3 Kenya

Amavubi’s striker Meddie Kagere in action against Uganda Cranes Defender Denis Iguma on Wednesday at Amahoro Stadium  

Amavubi team battled twice from a goal down to settle for a 2-all draw against Uganda Cranes in an international friendly match played yesterday at Amahoro stadium in Kigali.

The two sides were meeting for the first time since Uganda beat Rwanda 3-2 in a penalty shootout, normal time having ended 2-2, to lift the 2011 Cecafa Cup in Dar es Salaam.

Midfielder Said Kyeyune put the visitors in front after 21 minutes when he put to use a good set-piece from Dan Sserunkuma to strike past Jean Luc Ndayishimiye.

Before recess, Meddie Kagere struck a 45th minute equalising goal past defender Savio Kabugo straight into the edge of the goal post leaving goalie Abel Dhaira puzzled.

Cranes who were at their best dominated the midfield and would attack from the wings using the box to score all the goals with well-placed strikers.

Kenyan-based Dan Sserunkuma put Uganda in the lead once again from the spot on 66th minute when substitute Tony Odur who came in for Brian Omwony got tackled in the goal area by Fredrick Ndaka.

The introduction of Papy Sibomana for Jean Claude Iranzi, Aphrodis Hategikimana for Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Jimmy Mbaraga for Peter Kagabo and Jessy Reinford for Haruna Niyonzima paid off greatly.

Sibomana planted the ball in the bottom left corner, snatching the equaliser with eight minutes to the end of the game stretching substitute goalie Hamza Muwonge, thanks to an assist from Belgium-based Reinford who was making his debut for Amavubi.

With a draw result, Rwanda may rise in the FIFA rankings perhaps a lift from the current 137th position. It was Rwanda’s second FIFA international friendly draw since last November following another 2-all at home to Namibia before losing a defeat to Angola in December.

Rwanda’s next World Cup qualifier is in Kigali against Mali next month before a return leg in June while home-based players will take on Ethiopia in the 2014 Chan qualifiers same month.

Line-ups:

Rwanda: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Mbuyu Twite, Fabrice Twagizimana, Fredrick Ndaka, Michel Rusheshangoga [Patrick Umwungeli], Jean Baptista Mugiraneza, Haruna Niyonzima [Jessy Reinford], Jean Claude Iranzi [Papy Sibomana], Peter Kagabo [Jimmy Mbaraga], Medie Kagere and Tumaine Ntamuhanga [Aprodis Hategikimana].

Uganda: Abel Dhaira [Hamza Muwonge], Simeon Masaba, Habib Kavuma, Savio Kabugo [Fahadi Kawoya], Denis Iguma, Hassan Waswa [Willy Kavuma], Said Kyeyune, Mike Serumaga [Joseph Mpande], Brian Omwony [Tony Odur] , Hamis Kiiza [Feni Ali Mohammed] and Dan Serunkuma.