CHAN 2016: Wednesday Scores, Results, Updated Group Standings and Schedule

Hosts Rwanda secured their second win in as many matches at the 2016 African Nations Championship, as they beat Gabon 2-1 at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, on Wednesday, booking their place in the knockout stages.

Goals from Ernest Sugira either side of half-time gave the hosts what seemed a secure 2-0 advantage, but Aaron Salem Boupendza got one back for Gabon quickly. Any hopes of a comeback from the away side were extinguished not long after, though, as Tchen Kabi was dismissed for two yellow cards.

In the day’s later game, Morocco were edged out 1-0 by Ivory Coast, the Kigali clash settled by a first-half penalty. Here’s a recap of all the action, the updated Group A standings and the matches still to come in the group stages of the African Nations Championship.

Rwanda	2-1	Gabon
Ivory Coast	1-0	Morocco

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Rwanda	2	2	0	0	+2	6
2	Ivory Coast	2	1	0	1	0	3
3	Gabon	2	0	1	1	-1	1
4	Morocco	2	0	1	1	-1	1

Date	Time (GMT/ET)	Group	Match
Jan. 21	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	B	Congo vs. Angola
Jan. 21	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	B	Cameroon vs. Ethiopia
Jan. 22	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	C	Tunisia vs. Nigeria
Jan. 22	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	C	Niger vs. Guinea
Jan. 23	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	D	Zimbabwe vs. Mali
Jan. 23	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	D	Uganda vs. Zambia
Jan. 24	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	A	Morocco vs. Rwanda
Jan. 24	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	A	Ivory Coast vs. Gabon
Jan. 25	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	B	Ethiopia vs. Angola
Jan. 25	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	B	Cameroon vs. Congo
Jan. 26	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	C	Guinea vs. Nigeria
Jan. 26	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	C	Niger vs. Tunisia
Jan. 27	1 p.m. / 8 a.m.	D	Zambia vs. Mali
Jan. 27	4 p.m. / 11 a.m.	D	Uganda vs. Zimbabwe

Rwanda Win Again

After emerging victorious from their opener against Ivory Coast, there was a noticeable confidence about Rwanda as they took to the field for this one.

Indeed, given the significance of this group game, there was some illustrious personnel in the crowd, including Jeannette Kagame, the first lady of Rwanda:

The hosts were quicker than Gabon to every ball early on and were able to pin their opponents back for long spells. And while it took them a while to break the deadlock, when they did, it was well deserved.

After a loose ball fell into his path in the penalty area in the 42nd minute, Sugira was on hand to rattle a shot past the Gabon goalkeeper and give his side a huge boost before the interval. It was momentum that was evident as the second half began, as the Amavubi were able to double their lead within one minute of the restart.

Once again it was Sugira who was there to apply to finishing touches, guiding the header beyond the Gabon goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

As the party atmosphere built in the stadium, perhaps the hosts took their eye off the ball a little, as they allowed the Panthers a way back into the game. Boupendza was there to halve the deficit with a thumping header, and football journalist Lolade Adewuyi was sensing a potential comeback with a long way still to go in the game:

But a rash tackle from Kabi, who was already on a yellow card, left the referee with no choice other than to give him his marching orders. Suddenly, the task looked a lot more difficult for Gabon, whose players were noticeably downhearted by the decision.

As you would expect, the red card did take the sting out of the contest, with Rwanda able to keep the ball easily and run the 10 men of Gabon around. But they were unable to extend their lead in the latter stages, although that didn't dampen the delight of those in attendance, with the hosts securing their spot in the quarter-finals.  

Ivory Coast Edge Morocco

Ivory Coast came into Wednesday's clash needing a victory after their opening match resulted in a 1-0 defeat to the hosts.

A Morocco win would have put them into an excellent position to qualify for the knockout stages with only Rwanda left to play.

The opening exchanges were tight, both outfits forcing opportunities but never really troubling the goalmouth.

Mourad Batna—Morocco's most potent attacking threat—wasted a gilt-edged chance just before the half-hour when his back-heeled effort went straight at goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.

The match looked to be heading to half-time goalless, but in the second minute of injury time Junior Heman Djobo was fouled by Abderrahim Achchakir and the referee pointed to the spot.

Krahire Zakri stepped up and swept the penalty home right-footed, the keeper diving despairingly to his right as the ball sailed down the middle.

It was a perfectly-timed goal for the Ivorians as they headed into the break in a buoyant mood and returned looking to put the game to bed.

Right-back Mahan Marc Goua had the chance to add another goal early in the second half when he received the ball in space on the edge of the box, but his attempted volley went high and wide.

Morocco started to come forward with more energy as the half went on and Batna nearly equalised in the 69th minute, his dipping free-kick just hitting the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Minutes later the FUS Rabat forward once again caused havoc in the Ivorian penalty area as he launched a set-piece to three oncoming teammates, only for Badra to clearly unorthodoxly with his head.

Batna was denied again five minutes from time when his free header went flying over the crossbar, Morocco goalkeeper Mohammed Amine El Bourkadi also getting off the hook late on when an Ivorian counter attack resulted in a skied volley.

Despite the Moroccans' better chances, Ivory Coast saw out the match to pick up their first points of the tournament and set themselves up for a key last group clash with Gabon.