The Rwandan national football team, Amavubi, saw their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffer another setback after a 1-1 draw against Lesotho on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The match, held in Kigali, marked Rwanda’s sixth game in Group C of the qualifiers.
Despite dominating possession and
creating several scoring opportunities, Rwanda failed to secure the much-needed
three points. Kwizera Jojea put Amavubi ahead in the 57th minute with a
brilliant finish, raising hopes among Rwandan fans. However, Lesotho’s Neo
Mochachane silenced the crowd by equalizing in the 81st minute, leaving Rwanda
with just one point from the fixture.
Throughout the match, Rwanda showed
attacking intent, with Mugisha Gilbert, Raphael York, and Hakim Sahabo
combining well to create dangerous chances. Kwizera Jojea was particularly
lively, forcing several saves from Lesotho's goalkeeper Moerane before
eventually breaking the deadlock.
In the closing minutes, Amavubi
pushed for a late winner. Mugisha Gilbert and Omborenga Fitina came close, but
Lesotho’s defense held firm. The frustration was evident as Rwanda missed an
opportunity to close the gap on Nigeria and strengthen their qualification bid.
The result kept Rwanda in second
place with eight points, as Nigeria also drew 1-1 against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile,
South Africa strengthened their position by defeating Benin 2-0.
Group C is now led by South Africa
with 13 points, followed by Rwanda and Benin, both with eight points. Nigeria
sits fourth with seven points, Lesotho is fifth with six, and Zimbabwe remains
at the bottom with four points.
With only a few games left in the
qualifiers, Rwanda must now regroup and aim for maximum points in their
remaining matches to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The draw against Lesotho
serves as a reminder that every point matters in the race to North America
2026.
Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars failed to
Maximum points in World Cup Qualifications
Kin
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