​Rwanda 1-1 Kenya: Another draw for Harambee Stars in World Cup Qualifiers

Harambee Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Rwanda in Group E 2022 World Cup qualifier played at Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali on Sunday.

Stars were rewarded inside the first 10 minutes courtesy of Michael Olunga, but the hosts fought back and managed to equalize courtesy of Abdul Rwatubyaye.

Rwanda had lost their opening game against Mali by a solitary goal and were under pressure to get a win against Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee's charges, who had drawn 0-0 with Uganda at home in their first group game.

It was the visitors who showed hunger in early exchanges as they pushed forward with every opportunity, but failed to capitalise on a slow start by the Amavubi.

Mvuyekure was the busier of the two keepers and had to be alert to twice deny Masoud Juma and Olunga. However, in the ninth minute, he had no answer to the latter's strike.

A dangerous ball from the right was sent in by Daniel Sakari. The goalkeeper fumbled it with Juma trying to connect the rebound, but the defenders made a goal-line clearance. The ball went as far as the towering Olunga, who gladly took the chance to score for the first time in international football since November 2019 in a 1-1 draw against Egypt.

On the other end, Yannick Mukunzi and Jacques Tuyisenge had half-chances that they failed to take, but Rwanda did ultimately equalise in the 20th minute.

Joseph Okumu headed the ball out for a corner, it was crossed in and Tuyisenge headed against Rwatubyaye and the deflection, fortunately, bounced in the net.

From that moment, the ball flew from one end to another, but composure in the final third, for either team, was lacking. The defenders cleared anything that came their way to ensure their goalkeepers were well guarded. 

In the 41st minute, Sakari had to be alert to stop Tuyisenge from getting on the end of a good cross from the right. Stars had failed to mark effectively, but the Kariobangi Sharks man was there to save the day.

A minute before the break, Masoud Juma received the ball in a good area, pushed it close to the byline before cutting back but, with the goalkeeper stranded, no one was there to finish.

Stars started the second half on a high note and won a free-kick in a promising position after Haruna Niyonzima fouled Lawrence Juma. Olunga took it and Richard Odada flicked it, but the goalkeeper parried it out for an unfruitful corner.

Kenya defence was almost punished for ball-watching in the 55th minute, and Niyonzima danced past three players, only for his final shot from about 16 yards to be blocked by Eugene Asike with the goalkeeper wrong-footed.

Olunga would have scored his second goal in the 56th minute when he cut in and left Djihad Bizimana for dead, but, with the goal at his mercy, he went for power and shot over the bar.

Stars looked dangerous every time they attacked, and in the 62nd minute, once again, Olunga failed to guide the ball home after a good cross from the right had beaten the centre-backs.

Concentration lapses at the back allowed Meddie Kagere to receive the ball inside 12 yards, but he flashed the ball wide much to the relief of Ian Otieno in the Harambee Stars' goal.
Kenya are now second in the group with as many points, one behind league leaders Mali who will play Uganda on Monday.

The next assignment for Kenya will be against the West Africans as Rwanda play the Cranes.