Top domestic action takes a break around the globe this week as we concentrate on the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The second round of qualifying is finishing in Africa and on the 11th of November we have a meeting between Rwanda and Mali in Group E.
The match will be played at the Nyamirambo Regional Stadium, Kigali, with the hosts bottom of the group and eliminated and the visitors top and close to qualification to the third round.
It is camp timeThe work starts today#Tubadwinge #Amavubi pic.twitter.com/dESPO3qOEL— Rwanda National Team🇷🇼🇷🇼 (@AmavubiStars) November 5, 2021
It is camp timeThe work starts today#Tubadwinge #Amavubi pic.twitter.com/dESPO3qOEL
Rwanda come into the match having lost 1-0 away from against Uganda last time out. The only goal of the game was scored in the 22nd minute and that result means Rwanda have failed to win any of their 4 games to date in the group.
You must go back to a friendly match on the 7th of June against Central African Republic to find the last time Rwanda won.
They started the second round of World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 defeat at Mali and picked up their only point in the group at home in a 1-1 draw against Kenya. However, Rwanda were then defeated 1-0 at home by Uganda before suffering defeat by the same score line in the reverse fixture.
Trends show Rwanda have won just 2 of their last 14 matches in all competitions. Rwanda's last 7 games in the all competitions have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored, including all 4 of their recent World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Mali make the trip to the Nyamirambo Regional Stadium knowing a victory could be enough to see them secure qualification to the third round. They come into the match on the back of a 1-0 victory in Kenya and they have yet to taste defeat in Group E.
Mali started their campaign with a 1-0 win at home over Rwanda before being held to a 0-0 draw in Uganda. Mali then recorded their most convincing victory in the group to date as they beat Kenya 5-0 at home before the recent 1-0 win in the reverse fixture.
Trends show Mali have not lost in 25 of their last 28 matches in all competitions. They are on a successful run of 7 games in World Cup qualification where they have kept a clean sheet, including each of their last 3 on the road.
Team news and Rwanda will be relying on Jacques Tuyisenge to score their goals and he has 15 to his name for the Amavubi. The bulk of the squad play their football in Rwanda.
Mali have players spread across the world, including Hamari Traoré, Mamadou Fofana, Moussa Doumbia, and Kalifa Coulibaly, who all play in France.
This has been an extremely low scoring group and we do not expect to see many goals in this game. Mali know they have what it takes to keep a clean sheet against a team that has scored just one goal in the group and Les Aigles should come away with a narrow victory.