Estonia’s national team, featuring several debutants in the starting lineup, were unable to cope with Rwanda in the FIFA Series final, falling 0-2 in front of a packed Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda capital Kigali and finishing the tournament in second place.
Head coach Jürgen Henn made sweeping changes to the side that had reached the final, introducing seven new starters and handing senior debuts to Kaur Kivila, Mihhail Kolobov, Sander Tovstik and Rommi Siht. The experimental lineup struggled to settle early, and although Estonia saw a fair share of the ball in the opening stages, their play lacked rhythm and sharpness in the final third.
Rwanda, who for the first time played official game against a European nation, looked the more dangerous side whenever they attacked with purpose, and in the 30th minute they took the lead. The hosts broke through down Estonia’s right side, the ball was played across the box, and Abeddy Biramahire finished from close range to make it 1-0. Estonia’s best opportunity of the first half came a few minutes later when Mustmaa was played into the area, but his effort was too central and comfortably saved.
At halftime, with Estonia trailing and having offered little in attack, Henn turned to youth and experience from the bench. Patrik Kristal and Rauno Sappinen were introduced for the second half, and for a short spell Estonia looked sharper. Hussar earned a corner after a good pass from Kristal, and another promising move involving Hussar, Kristal and Sappinen suggested Estonia might find a way back.
Instead, Rwanda struck again. In the 51st minute, a short corner routine ended with Leroy Mickels left completely unmarked inside the penalty area, and he fired into the roof of the net from close range to double the hosts’ lead. It was a well-worked set-piece, and a damaging blow for an Estonian side that had just begun to show signs of life.
From there, the game drifted further away from Estonia. Rwanda continued to look stronger in nearly every department, while Estonia struggled badly with first touches, passing accuracy and decision-making in the final third. Henn tried to change the flow of the match with a triple substitution just before the hour mark, sending on Larsen, Yakovlev and Palumets, but the visitors never managed to build sustained pressure.
Estonia’s problems were visible throughout the match. Kivila looked uneasy in possession, Rwanda repeatedly found space in wide areas, and the midfield never truly established control. Even when Estonia had spells of possession, they rarely turned them into clear chances. Rwanda, by contrast, played with greater confidence and intensity, feeding off the energy of the home crowd.
The 45,000 spectators inside Amahoro Stadium created a lively atmosphere throughout, and Rwanda looked every bit a team determined to lift the trophy on home soil. Estonia, meanwhile, ended their African trip with a frustrating defeat, but a great experience overall.
Now the next for Estonian National team is the Baltic Cup which will start in June with them playing a semifinal match against Faroe Island.
Rwanda vs Estonia – 2-0 (1-0)
Goals: Biramahire 30′, L. Mickels 51′
