Right from kickoff, Amavubi charged forward, determined to reverse their fortunes. Just two minutes into the game, Kevin Muhire launched a powerful attempt, narrowly missing the target but setting the tone for an aggressive offensive.
As the game settled, Rwanda's Olivier Dushimimana, affectionately nicknamed "Muzungu," took the stage. At seven minutes, he claimed the game's first corner kick, pressuring Djibouti's defense and rallying the crowd.
The breakthrough came swiftly in the 10th minute when Muzungu drove a sleek tap into the net, throwing the crowd into ecstatic celebration. Muzungu, who was arguably the game's standout player in its opening stages, nearly doubled the lead three minutes later with a powerful cross that Djibouti's defense narrowly blocked.
On 23 minutes, he made no mistake, once again finding the net to double Amavubi's lead and solidify his status as the match's early hero.
His two goals provided much-needed confidence to Rwanda's midfield trio comprising of Bosco Ruboneka and Gilbert Mugisha, whose creativity and agility brought balance to the squad after a disappointing first leg encounter.
Though Amavubi's pace waned slightly toward the end of the first half, they almost clinched a third goal in stoppage time, with Muzungu, again narrowly missing a hat-trick opportunity before the half time whistle.
As the second half prepared to commence, excitement erupted as President Paul Kagame entered Amahoro Stadium. The Head of State's arrival energized both players and fans alike, elevating the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
The second half began with Rwanda maintaining their offensive pressure. Kevin Muhire came close to extending the lead in the 57th minute but missed a one-on-one chance with the Djibouti goalkeeper.
Djibouti's attempts at retaliation were quickly quashed by Gorilla FC's skilled goalkeeper Gad, who denied Djibouti a glimmer of hope at the hour mark.
Rwanda appeared to seal their third goal when Mugisha scored at the 78th minute, but the celebration was cut short by an offside call. The close call only intensified Rwanda's determination.
As the game neared its end, Amavubi showed relentless resolve to secure their place in the next round. In the 90th minute, Mugisha skillfully delivered a through pass to Arsene Tuyisenge, who confidently slotted in Rwanda's third goal, ensuring an aggregate victory and a resounding near qualification.
With three minutes of added time, Rwanda held their line firmly, finishing the game with a decisive 3-1 on aggregate. The final whistle marked a triumphant moment, as Amavubi kept their CHAN qualification dreams alive and set their sights on the next challenge.
The next game in this campaign will be a showdown with the winner of the Kenya and South Sudan tie, slated for November 3, 2024 at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
For Rwanda, this match was more than a win; it was a declaration of resilience, team spirit, and national pride and some fans say, Amavubi stands ready with their eyes fixed firmly on a place in the finals jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania between February 1 to 28, 2025.
Sam K Nkurunziza
