England-born Stephen Constantine extended his fairy-tale start as Rwanda coach by plotting the downfall of Congo in a 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations eliminator this weekend. The Wasps shocked the Red Devils 2-0 in Kigali and won a penalty shootout 4-3 to reach the group phase of the qualifying competition.
Michel Ndahinduka put the home team ahead on 56 minutes at Stade Nyamirambo and Albania-based Meddie Kagere doubled the lead soon after. Former Cup of Nations title-holders Congo came closest to snatching an away goal midway through the second half when Cesaire Gandze was foiled by the woodwork.
Constantine, a 51-year-old former coach of Malawi, Sudan, India and Nepal, moved to Rwanda two months ago after guiding a club into the Cypriot premier division. His first match in charge delivered a stunning 3-0 Cup of Nations home victory over recently crowned African Nations Championship winners Libya.
The Wasps lost 2-0 away to Congo two weeks ago, but Constantine did not lose faith in his minnows, saying an early goal would bring them back into contention. There was no early goal in a lacklustre opening half, but two goals within eight minutes turned the tide and Patrick Sibomana converted the tie-clinching spot-kick.
The reward for Rwanda is a place in Group A with defending champions Nigeria and former champions South Africa and Sudan. All group winners and runners-up and the best of the seven third-place countries go to Morocco for the biennial African football showpiece played between 17 January and 8 February next year.
Malawi also took the shootout route to success, defeating Benin 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre through a John Banda goal and 4-3 on penalties. Young midfielder Banda struck on 14 minutes with an acrobatic volley that gave goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi no chance.
The Malawian 'Flames' were unlucky not to score again as captain Joseph Kamwendo struck the woodwork and Gastin Simkonda had a goal ruled offside. West Bromwich Albion midfielder Stephane Sessegnon, leading scorer in the qualifiers with four goals, missed the first kick of the shootout for the Benin 'Squirrels'.
Malawi go into Group B where they will face Algeria, the most impressive African team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Mali and Ethiopia.
Jerome Ramatlhakwane equalised in the final minute to give Botswana a 1-1 away draw against Guinea Bissau at Estadio 24 de Setembro. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Guinea Bissau took the lead midway through the opening half when Portugal-based midfielder Ivanildo Cassama scored. A 3-1 aggregate victory secured Botswana a place in Group G, with record seven-time African champions Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal.
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