Rwanda's players celebrate their historic feat

Hosts Rwanda qualified for the semi-finals of the African U17 Championship on Tuesday after beating Egypt 1-0.

The Group A result means Rwanda have qualified for the World Cup to be played in Mexico later this year.

The hosts won the game despite playing the second half with ten men after one of their defenders was sent off.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso revived their hopes of reaching the last four after beating Senegal 3-2 in the group's other game.

Burkina Faso's victory, courtesy of a first-half double from Sana Zaniou and one from Zerbo Ben Issa, means they have three points from two matches.

Senegal are still seeking their first point at this stage of the finals even though Nassalan Remi and Drame Ibrahima pulled goals back in the second half.

Their Burkinabe rivals will go through to the semi-finals if they win their final group game against Egypt.

But it was Rwanda's success which stole the show for the diminutive nation has never previously contested a Fifa World Cup at any level, nor an Olympic Games for that matter.

To give greater perspective, Rwanda's senior team has only ever qualified for one African Cup of Nations - the 2004 finals in Tunisia - despite nearly three decades of trying.

In Wednesday's Group B games, Ivory Coast play Congo while Mali take on Gambia.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version