Cedric Sports Insight

Tonight, at Kigali's iconic Amahoro Stadium, the Amavubi delivered a performance that will be etched in Rwandan football lore. With a surprisingly 2-1 comeback victory over Benin, Rwanda not only secured three crucial points but also significantly boosted their chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The match began on a tense note as Benin took an early lead on 43th minutes, capitalizing on a defensive lapse after fitina omborenga's mistakes led to Andreas Hountondji goal against Amavubi. The Rwandan fans, though momentarily silent, never lost faith in their team. As the first half drew to a close, the Amavubi regrouped, displaying a tenacity that would define the rest of the game. The equalizer came in the 70th minute after a period of sustained pressure from Rwanda. Nshuti Innocent, who had been a constant threat on the Benin defense, found himself in the right place at the right time. After a well-worked move down the right wing, the ball was crossed i...

  Robert Lewandowski’s 26-minute hat-trick steered La Liga leaders Barcelona three points clear of Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 win at Alaves on Sunday. The Polish striker reached 10 goals for the season in nine league games, stretching his lead as the division’s top goalscorer with a first-half treble. Champions Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona but the Catalans strolled to a comfortable triumph at Alaves’ Mendizorroza stadium to continue a strong start to the campaign under new coach Hansi Flick. Barca secured their eighth victory in nine La Liga matches by taking control from the start. Lewandowski and winger Raphinha, in superb form this season, were Barcelona’s key players in a match they largely dominated. The Brazil international had a goal disallowed for offside before setting up Lewandowski for the opener with an inviting free-kick, which the striker headed home. Raphinha burst down the left wing for Barcelona’s second, crossing for the ve...

staged a stirring fightback to keep their Premier League title challenge on course with a 3-1 victory against struggling Southampton on Saturday. Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by Cameron Archer’s shock opener for the winless visitors early in the second half at the Emirates Stadium. But Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli struck in quick succession to restore order, before Bukayo Saka wrapped up Arsenal’s fifth win in seven league games. After finishing as runners-up to Manchester City for the last two years, the Gunners are again in contention for their first title since 2004. Saka this week said he expects Arsenal to finally lift the Premier League trophy this season. They sit in third place, one point behind leaders Liverpool, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions. Four days after their statement victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal faced a Southampton side who have managed only one point from seven games since their pr...