By Angu Lesley
Football Writer, kick442.com Cameroon
The local Amavubi’s of Rwanda have picked up a second point in the yhe ongoing African Nations Championship in Cameroon. The boys of coach Mashami Vincent held defending Champions Morocco to a virgin draw this Friday in their second group game at the historic Bepanda Omnisport Stadium in Douala.
Though the game lacked goals, there were chances for both sides but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from botb sides left the close two thousand fans at the Stadium with little to cheer about.
The sides canceled each other in the opening exchanges of the long-awaited fixture.
The best chance of the first half fell to the local Amavubi’s in the 34th when Muhadjiri Hakizimana picked up a loss ball and tried beating the Moroccan keeper but his effort was pushed wide by a very vigilant Anas Zniti on goal for Morocco.
Jacques Tuyisenge won a good free-kick for Rwanda barely minutes later but 10 piut it wide from a 28 meters range.
Fatina Omborenga came knocking again for the daring Rwanda side but a timely toe clearance from Abdelmounaim Boutil put the ball away for a corner for corner which was effectively defended.
Omborenga put the Rwanda defense on the back-foot in the last 30 second of added time in the first-half as he gave away a free-kick within goal testing range. Unfortunately for the Moroccans Referee Ahmad Herallal gave them just one opportunity to take the set-piece and this opportunity wasn’t used meaning the first segment ended after a stop-starting run without execution of the dead ball.
The first segment ended goalless with skipper Ayoub El looking very isolated in the final-third for the Moroccans who had little or nothing to show for.
Second-half:
The Moroccans started the second segment on the front foot, trying unsuccessfully to win a corner just two minutes into it from a quick counter.
Ayoub El forced a save from goalkeeper Dominique Savio on the Rwandan goal in the 52nd minute of the game through a shot from just outside the 18 yards area.
The Rwandan backline completed the clearance to end a good passage of play for Morocco.
The 2018 CHAN champions took control of the game moving the ball across the pitch with relative ease but not creating enough problems for the Rwandan defense.
Walid El Karti had a good chance in the 57th minute of the game but a vigilant defensive clearance put the ball away from danger.
Substitute for Rwanda Jean Bertrand IraduKunda tried a long range shot at goal for Rwanda two minutes later but his effort was intercepted at the expense of a corner perfectly defended by the Moroccans.
Jacques Tuyisenge forced another close range save from Anas Zniti on goal for Morocco just a minute later as the game became more of an end-to-end stuff.
The Moroccans won a 65th minute set piece in the in the right flank. The effort from Nawfel Zhefouni was well gathered by goalkeeper Dominique Savio for Rwanda.
Ayoub El picked up a booking in the 67th minute of the game for fouling Manzi Thierry from behind.
Morocco’s Left-back AbdelKarim Baadi in another of his trademark runs took his side from defense to attack in the 70th minute before putting in a wicked ball but yet again the Rwandan backline stood their grounds and cleared.
The next ten minutes of the game was characterized by unforced errors leading to cheap loss of possession.
AbdelKarim Baadi won a good set-piece in the 82nd minute but the delivery from Abdelila Hafidi met the forehead of Musinzi Ange who cleared for the local Amavubis.
The final eight minutes of the game was mostly played in the Rwanda half though a quick counter in the 83rd minute led by Jacques Tuyisenge nearly ended with the opener for Rwanda.
Both sides made attacking substitutions in the the final three three minute but the goal eluded both sides.
AbdelKarim Baadi was named the man of the match for his outstanding defensive and attacking efforts all night to the satisfaction of the fans in the stadium who responded to the announcement with thunderous claps that lasted close to a minute.
Baadi had the last chance of the game beating two defenders on the edge of the Rwandan box before unleashing a shot in the 92nd minute that was blocked.
Full-time
Morocco 0-0 Rwanda.
Morocco remain top of the group with four points while unbeaten Rwanda are second with two points, both from two games.
Morocco face Uganda in their last group game while Rwanda challenge Togo.
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