Ntibazonkiza Saidi’s brace handed Burundi the first 3 points of the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers campaign.
Today, 4 days after Burundi drew with Mauritania in Nouakchott, the swallows of Burundi have defeated Mauritania 3 goals to 1 with 2 goals scored by striker Ntibazonkiza Saidi in a game played at Intwari stadium in Bujumbura.
In this game, Burundian head coach Jimmy Ndayizeye made four changes to the 11 players who started the first leg match played in Nouakchott. The head coach opted to sit Fredric Nsabiyumva and shifted Yussuf Nyange from the midfield to central defence, a position he plays in his current club, Yeni Malatyaspor. The coach also included Blaise Bigirimana and Saido Berahino in the starting lineup replacing Cedric Amiss and Fiston Abdul.
Ntibazonkiza Saidi opened the score early in the game following a good combination from Berahino and Weymans in the 6th minute. Weymans played his debut game for his nation last week in Nouakchott. Weymans who made an assist for this goal also played his first game in Burundi today.
27 minutes into the game, Mauritania through forward Mamadou Niass Ndioko levelled the score to bring the visitors back into the game.
One minute after the break, an acrobatic diving header from Youssuf Ndayishimiye popularly known as Nyange put Burundi in the lead from a free-kick delivered by former Newcastle United midfielder Gael Bigirimana.
Ntibazonkiza Saidi doubled his tally for the day through yet another properly delivered free-kick. This makes it 4 goals in 3 games after his return to the national team. Saidi was on the scoresheet last week on Wednesday against the same opponent.
After this score, Burundi moves up to 3rd place with 4 points and a point behind Mauritania. In the remaining fixtures of Group E, in March 2021 Burundi will host the Central African Republic and visit Morocco. the top two teams in this group will qualify for the 2021 AFCON that will be played in Cameroon come 2022.
Burundi Starting XI: O. Rukundo, E. Nimubona, E. Ndayizeye, Y. Ndayishimiye, M. Weymans, G. Bigirimana, S. Nzigamasabo, B. Bigirimana, C. Bimenyimana, S. Berahino and S. Ntibazonkiza.
Subs: J. Nahimana, Justin, Asman, Philip, Frederic, Issa, Josue, Cedric, Fiston and Amissi
Mauritanie Starting XI: D. Namori, El M. Diaw, N. Bakary, BA Abdoul (C), Aly Abeid, Abdallahi, Y. Dellah, El Hacen, Bessam, I. Diakite and A. Niass Ndioko
Subs: Babacar, Diarra, Yacoub, Houssen, Lemrabott, Mouhsine, A.Gaye, Almike, Alassane, Thiam, H. Tanjy and Yassin El Wely
Elsewhere, Kenya gave in to Comoros in a match that ended 2-1. The Harambee Stars are in 3rd place with 3 points behind Egypt who have a game in hand with 5 points. Comoros leads this Group G of AFCON 2021 Qualifiers table while with 8 points while Togo trails at the bottom with only 1 point.
