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

Kenya and Rwanda draw the curtain on their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying journeys with a meeting at the Nyayo National Stadium on Monday.

Both teams are set to miss out on next year's event following disappointing qualifying campaigns and will be looking to bow out in style.

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Match preview

Kenya ended a run of consecutive defeats with a 1-1 draw versus Uganda at the St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende on Thursday.

Engin Firat's men took the lead just past the hour mark through Michael Olunga only for Fahad Bayo to level matters in the penultimate minute of normal time.

The Harambee Stars are third in Group E at the moment and have now let in the most goals of all four teams in the group.

Next up for them is a clash versus an opposing side who have not won any of the previous seven encounters dating back to 2005.

Off the back of three straight home wins in this fixture, Monday's hosts will be confident of coming out on top come the full-time whistle.

Rwanda were beaten for the third consecutive match following a 3-0 defeat versus Mali at the Nyamirambo Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Moussa Djenepo, Ibrahima Kone and Kalifa Coulibaly put Vincent Mashami's men to the sword in Kigali.

Having recorded just one point from their last five outings, the Wasps remain rooted to the bottom of Group E.

Monday's visitors, who have only found the back of the net on one occasion in that time, will need to improve going forward to stand a chance of picking up a positive result.

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Team News

Michael Olunga was on target in the reverse fixture, and the 27-year-old, who has scored both of his side's two goals in the qualifiers to date, is one to keep an eye on.

With 19 international strikes to his name - the most of any active player, Olunga currently sits eighth in his nation's all-time scoring chart.

Bizimana Djihad is suspended for this one after he received his marching orders in Rwanda's defeat versus Mali last time out.

Rayon Sport midfielder Nishimwe Blaise is the favourite to replace the aforementioned Djihad in the visitors' starting lineup.

Kenya possible starting lineup:

Bwire; Khamis, Ochieng, Okumu, Nondi; Muguna, Akumu, Wambani; Onyango, Olunga, Abdallah

Rwanda possible starting lineup:

Mvuyekure; Imanishimwe, Manzi, Nirisarike, Rukundo; Nshuti, Niyonzima, Blaise, Muhire; Sugira, York

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We say: Kenya 1-1 Rwanda

The teams can afford to take their foot off the gas with only little at stake in this one. Nonetheless, we expect an absorbing affair with goals at both ends and honours even at the sound of the final whistle.