Rwanda beat Sierra Leone 91:87 in the Africa Continental Cup ILT20 on Tuesday 16 September. The home side moved to 12 points from nine games, while the visitors remained winless after nine defeats. It was a far closer contest than their meeting five days earlier, when Rwanda had run out 191:46 winners.
Sierra Leone have now lost every game they have played in this tournament. Their last three results showed they can stay within touching distance of opponents, losing to Uganda by a single point and to Kenya by four. But they have yet to find a way through to victory.
Rwanda came into the match with mixed recent form. They had lost four of their last five games, including heavy defeats to Kenya and Uganda, but they also put up 183 against Botswana on 13 September. They were out-thought on the touchline against Kenya last time out, but managed to bounce back here.
The difference between the two sides was small enough to keep the match in balance until the final moments. Sierra Leone kept pushing but could not quite pull away, while Rwanda held their nerve when it mattered most. The support of the fans could be called devoted, but that is an assessment, not a fact. What is clear is that the home side needed this win after a run of losses.
Both teams move forward with the tournament still open. Rwanda sit third with eight points from eight games, though they have played one more match than the teams above them. Sierra Leone remain bottom with nothing to show for nine attempts, but they have shown they can compete for short periods.
