Preview: Rwanda vs. Kenya - prediction, team news, lineups

Having both failed to win their respective opening World Cup qualifiers last time out, Rwanda and Kenya face off at the Nyamirambo Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts were edged out narrowly in their curtain-raiser on the road, while the visitors were involved in a share of the spoils on home turf.

Match preview

Rwanda kicked off their Group E qualifying campaign with a 1-0 defeat against the Eagles of Mali at the Adrar Stadium in Morocco on Wednesday.

Adama Traore was the match winner as he scored the only goal of the contest in the 20th minute a few moments after Moussa Djenepo had fluffed his lines from 12 yards.

Vincent Mashami's men, in search of an immediate response, will be looking to return to winning ways on home turf where they are unbeaten in the last three outings.

However, Sunday's hosts are faced with the challenge of going up against an opposing side who are 67 places ahead in the current FIFA rankings, highlighting the size of the task at hand.

The East Africans have also failed to come out on top or even find the back of the net in any of the four previous encounters versus this weekend's opponents.

Kenya made an indifferent start to life in Group E as they were held to a goalless stalemate by Uganda in front of their fans on Thursday.

In a tight affair at the Nyayo National Stadium, Jacob Mulee's men failed to find a way past a stubborn opposition defence which was near-impenetrable on the day.

The Harambee Stars will obviously be disappointed to have dropped points, but they are now unbeaten in five matches dating back to a 2-1 loss to the Comoros in November 2020.

Sunday's visitors, who are without a win in any of their last eight games away from home, have it all to do in their quest to make it four points from six.

Team News

Lawrence Juma was hauled with a knock off half an hour into Kenya's last involvement, making him a doubt for his side's trip to Rwanda this weekend.

Eric Johana Omondi could come into the starting lineup in Juma's stead after coming on as a first-half substitute in the aforementioned game.

The hosts also have injury problems of their own as 23-year-old Bryan Ngwabije faces a late fitness test to determine his availability following a minor injury which cut his outing short last time out.

Fitina Omborenga is in line to make his 50th appearance for his nation which would make him their seventh most capped player of all time.

Rwanda possible starting lineup:
Mvuyekure; Bizimana, Imanishimwe, Nirisarike; Byiringiro, Mukunzi, Rwatubyaye, Omborenga; Kagere, Tuyisenge, Hakizimana

Kenya possible starting lineup:
Otieno; Okumu, Sakari, Ouma, Abdallah; Omondi, Muguna, Asike; Odada, Olunga, Choka

We say: Rwanda 0-0 Kenya

Both teams were far from convincing last time out and will be looking to bounce back with a victory here. We anticipate a cagey contest with both sides cancelling each other out and settling for a point apiece in the end.