Ghana group opponents Rwanda started their opening 2017 Afcon qualifying campaign in style with a 1–0 win over Mozambique on Sunday at the Estadio Nacional de Zimpeto in Maputo.
Striker Ernest Sugira headed the ball into an open net in the third minute from a Jacques Tuyisenge pass on the right flank to give the Amavubi an early lead.
Rwanda continued pressing Os Mambas upfront with Tuyisenge sending a long range shot that went wide in the 10th minute.
The home side did overcame the shock of conceding an early goal to dominate. Benfica forward Clésio Baúque had a chance to score a minute later following a one-on-one with Rwandan goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye but the custodian dived to the ground and held onto the ball.
Josemar Machaisse then sent his effort wide off target from inside the penalty box before Ndayishimiye punched away an effort from a free-kick in the 19th minute.
Os Mambas mounted pressure on the Amavubi for the remaining part of the first half but were wasteful from the many set-pieces Rwanda conceded. A groin injury forced Ndayishimiye off in added time of the first half but youngster Olivier Kwizera completed the job.
Rwanda coach Johnny McKinstry said, “The opportunity came very early on. We played in on the right wing and we got forward from the right wing and got in on advanced possession and we got a great cross and a great finish from Ernest Sugira.”
“From that point [after the goal], we had about 92 minutes of the game still to go including three possible minutes of stoppage time, 92 minutes of defending and keeping Mozambique out was always going to be tough on us but the boys did extremely well.”
Rwanda is second in Group H following Ghana’s 7-1 resounding win over Mauritius at the Accra Sports Stadium.