2020-2021 Rwandan Second Division
|
Season |
2020-2021 |
|
Dates |
18 September 2021 – 15 October 2021 |
|
Champions |
Gicumbi FC |
|
Promoted |
Gicumbi FC Etoile de l’Est FC |
|
Relegated |
None |
|
Matches played |
48 (50 considering the two which were awarded for no show) |
|
Goals scored |
117 (2.44 goals/match on average) |
|
Biggest home win |
Gicumbi – Kirehe 5-1 (quarter-finals, first leg, 3 October 2021) |
|
Biggest away win |
Rwamagana City – The Winners 1-3 (round 2, 21 September 2021) Intare – Heroes 2-4 (round 3, 24 September 2021) Pepiniere – Nyanza 2-4 (round 3, 24 September 2021) Pepiniere – Gicumbi 1-3 (round 4, 27 September 2021) Impeesa – Etoile de l’Est 1-3 (round 4, 27 September 2021) Interforce – Amagaju 1-3 (round 5, 30 September 2021) |
|
Highest scoring |
Rugende – Pepiniere 4-2 (round 1, 18 September 2021) Intare – Heroes 2-4 (round 3, 24 September 2021) Pepiniere – Nyanza 2-4 (round 3, 24 September 2021) Esperance – University of Rwanda 3-3 (round 3, 24 September 2021) Gicumbi – Kirehe 5-1 (quarter-finals, first leg, 3 October 2021) |
|
Longest winning run |
Vision FC (all 4 matches in the group stage) |
|
Longest unbeaten run |
Gicumbi, Etoile de l’Est and Amagaju did not lose any game |
|
Longest winless run |
Intare, Interforce, La Jeunesse, Pepiniere, Esperance Sportive, United Stars and Rwamagana City did not win any game |
|
Longest losing run |
Pepiniere and United Stars lost 3 matches in a row |
Competition details and format
The Rwandan Second Division represents the second tier in the Rwandan football system and is organized by the Federation Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA).
The 2020-2021 season was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, just like the previous season, 2019-2020. The 2019-2020 season of the Second Division was interrupted halfway through in March 2020 and only the promotion play-off matches were played in November 2020. Therefore the 2020-2021 season was postponed for 2021, and eventually took place only in the second half of the year in a very short format, in less than one month, between 18 September 2021 and 15 October 2021.
Initially, 20 teams enrolled in the competition, including most of those which competed in the 2019-2020 season, and two teams relegated from the 2019-2020 Premier League (Heroes and Gicumbi), as well as some teams either promoted from the Third Division or accepted instead of those which refused to enroll. Although teams had been usually divided in two groups of about 10, in this situation, due to time constraints related to the upcoming start of the 2021-2022 season at all levels, the teams were divided in four groups of 5 teams each. However, Gasabo United withdrew from the competition right before the start, so Group A (where Gasabo United were assigned) remained with just four teams. The groups were largely made up taking into account a balanced distribution of the teams in terms of value, and the geographical location, as much as possible.
In each group, every team played every other team once in a single round robin championship, a total of four matches for each team (except for Group A, where only three matches were played by each team). Two of these matches were played at home, and two of them away. The winners and the runners-up in each group qualified for the promotion play-offs, or the knock-out stage.
In the knock-out stage, the matches were played in two legs, so that each team played one match at home and one away, in the quarter-finals and the semifinals. In the quarter-finals, the winners of the groups faced the runners-up from a different group. It is interesting to note that the runners-up played the second leg at home (which is usually considered a minor advantage). The team with the best aggregate score over the two legs advanced to the next round. If tied, penalty shoot-outs were to decide the qualified team. The semifinals were also played in two legs, and decided the two promoted teams to the 2021-2022 Premier League. The finals (for the championship and for the third place) were played in a single match, in Kigali. Both the winners and the runners-up promoted to the 2021-2022 Rwandan Premier League.
The competition was very difficult for Second Division teams, because matches were scheduled every three days. The two relegated teams, Heroes and Gicumbi, were considered among the favourites to reach the finals and to promote back, along with the 2020-2021 semifinalists, Etoile de l’Est and Vision, which had lost promotion at penalty shoot-outs a year ago. These four teams were also distributed in different groups from the beginning. However, Heroes only classified second in their group, behind Amagaju, and therefore had to play against the winners of another group, Vision, in the quarter-finals. Although Heroes succeeded to advance to the semifinals, winning over Vision at penalty shoout-outs, they were then eliminated by Gicumbi, losing both legs. In the other semifinal, Etoile de l’Est won over Amagaju at penalty shoot-outs, and promoted to Premier League after finishing third a year ago. In both finals, penalties decided the winners: Gicumbi winning over Etoile de l’Est in the big final, while Heroes won over Amagaju in the third place final.
No teams were relegated.
Team changes from the 2019-2020
To the Second Division
Relegated from the Premier League
Heroes FC
Gicumbi FC
Promoted from the Third Division or accepted to the Second Division
Nyanza FC
La Jeunesse FC
Esperance Sportive Kigali
United Stars FC
The Winners FC
From the Second Division
Promoted to the Premier League
Gorilla FC
Rutsiro FC
Withdrawn[1]
Aspor FC
Alpha FC
Miroplast FC
Sorwathe FC
Akagera FC
Nyagatare FC
Teams
|
Team |
Home town |
Stadium |
2019-2020 |
|
Heroes FC |
Nyamata |
Bugesera |
15th in the Premier League (relegated) |
|
Gicumbi FC |
Byumba |
Gicumbi |
16th in the Premier League (relegated) |
|
Etoile de l’Est FC |
Kibungo |
Ngoma |
3rd place overall in the Second Division (semifinalists) |
|
Vision FC |
Kigali |
Mumena |
4th place overall in the Second Division (semifinalists) |
|
Rwamagana City |
Rwamagana |
Rwamagana AEE |
4th in Group B, Second Division (quarter-finalists) |
|
Amagaju FC |
Gikongoro |
Nyamagabe |
5th in Group A, Second Division (quarter-finalists) |
|
Interforce FC |
Kigali |
Kicukiro IPRC |
6th in Group A, Second Division (quarter-finalists) |
|
Rugende FC |
Rugende |
Rugende |
3rd in Group B[2], Second Division |
|
Intare FC |
Kigali |
Kicukiro IPRC |
4th in Group A[2], Second Division |
|
University of Rwanda FC |
Butare |
Kamena |
7th in Group B, Second Division |
|
Impeesa FC |
Kigali |
Camp Kigali |
8th in Group A, Second Division |
|
Gasabo United[3] |
Kigali |
Kicukiro IPRC |
8th in Group B, Second Division |
|
Kirehe FC |
Kirehe |
Ngoma |
9th in Group A, Second Division |
|
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle FC |
Gisenyi |
Stade Umuganda |
9th in Group B, Second Division |
|
Pepiniere FC |
Kamonyi |
Kamonyi-Rugando |
10th in Group A, Second Division |
|
Nyanza FC |
Nyanza |
Nyanza |
Promoted or accepted from the Third Division |
|
La Jeunesse FC |
Nyamirambo |
Mumena |
Promoted or accepted from the Third Division |
|
Esperance Sportive |
Kigali |
Mumena |
Promoted or accepted from the Third Division |
|
United Stars FC |
Ruhango |
Kabagari |
Promoted or accepted from the Third Division |
|
The Winners FC |
Muhanga |
Muhanga |
Promoted or accepted from the Third Division |
Geographical distribution of the teams
Almost half of the teams (8 out of 20) are from the capital city of Kigali or the province of Kigali. The Southern Province (with 6 teams) and the Eastern Province (with 4 teams) are also very well represented. The Northern Province and the Western Province are least represented, with only one team each.
|
Province |
Number |
Name of the teams |
|
Kigali |
8 |
Vision FC, Interforce, Rugende, Intare, Impeesa, Gasabo United, La Jeunesse, Esperance Sportive |
|
Northern |
1 |
Gicumbi |
|
Eastern |
4 |
Heroes, Etoile de l’Est, Rwamagana City, Kirehe |
|
Southern |
6 |
Amagaju, University of Rwanda, Pepiniere, Nyanza, United Stars, The Winners |
|
Western |
1 |
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle |
Group A
Heroes FC
Amagaju FC
Interforce FC
Intare FC
Gasabo United
Round 1 (18 September 2021)
Heroes – Amagaju 1-2
Gasabo United – Intare cancelled (not played, Gasabo United withdrew)
Interforce bye
Round 2 (21 September 2021)
Amagaju – Gasabo United cancelled
Intare – Interforce 0-0
Heroes bye
Round 3 (24 September 2021)
Gasabo United – Interforce cancelled
Intare – Heroes 2-4
Amagaju bye
Round 4 (27 September 2021)
Interforce – Heroes 0-0
Amagaju – Intare 0-0
Gasabo United bye
Round 5 (30 September 2021)
Interforce – Amagaju 1-3
Heroes – Gasabo United cancelled
Intare bye
Group A table
|
1 |
Amagaju |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5-2 |
7 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
Heroes |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5-4 |
4 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
Intare |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2-4 |
2 |
|
|
4 |
Interforce |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1-3 |
2 |
|
|
5 |
Gasabo United |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0-0 |
0 |
|
Group B
Gicumbi FC
Rugende FC
Pepiniere FC
Nyanza FC
La Jeunesse FC
Round 1 (18 September 2021)
Rugende – Pepiniere 4-2
Nyanza – Gicumbi 1-2
La Jeunesse bye
Round 2 (21 September 2021)
Gicumbi – Rugende 1-0
La Jeunesse – Nyanza 1-2
Pepiniere bye
Round 3 (24 September 2021)
Gicumbi – La Jeunesse 0-0
Pepiniere – Nyanza 2-4
Rugende bye
Round 4 (27 September 2021)
Rugende – La Jeunesse 2-0
Pepiniere – Gicumbi 1-3
Nyanza bye
Round 5 (30 September 2021)
Nyanza – Rugende 1-1
La Jeunesse – Pepiniere 1-1
Gicumbi bye
Group B table
|
1 |
Gicumbi |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6-2 |
10 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
Rugende |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
7-4 |
7 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
Nyanza |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
8-6 |
7 |
|
|
4 |
La Jeunesse |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2-5 |
2 |
|
|
5 |
Pepiniere |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
6-12 |
1 |
|
Group C
Vision FC
University of Rwanda FC
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle FC
Esperance Sportive Kigali
United Stars FC
Round 1 (18 September 2021)
United Stars – Esperance Sportive 2-2
Vision FC – University of Rwanda 3-0 (awarded, University of Rwanda did not show up)
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle bye
Round 2 (21 September 2021)
Esperance Sportive – Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle 1-2
University of Rwanda – United Stars 2-1
Vision FC bye
Round 3 (24 September 2021)
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle – Vision FC 0-1
Esperance Sportive – University of Rwanda 3-3
United Stars bye
Round 4 (27 September 2021)
United Stars – Vision FC 1-2
University of Rwanda – Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle 0-0
Esperance Sportive bye
Round 5 (30 September 2021)
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle – United Stars 3-0 (awarded, United Stars did not show up)
Vision FC – Esperance Sportive 3-0
University of Rwanda bye
Group C table
|
1 |
Vision FC |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
9-1 |
12 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5-2 |
7 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
University of Rwanda |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5-7 |
5 |
|
|
4 |
Esperance Sportive |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6-10 |
2 |
|
|
5 |
United Stars |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4-9 |
1 |
|
Group D
Etoile de l’Est FC
Rwamagana City FC
Impeesa FC
Kirehe FC
The Winners FC
Round 1 (18 September 2021)
Kirehe – Impeesa 1-0
The Winners – Etoile de l’Est 0-1
Rwamagana City bye
Round 2 (21 September 2021)
Etoile de l’Est – Kirehe 1-0
Rwamagana City – The Winners 1-3
Impeesa bye
Round 3 (24 September 2021)
Etoile de l’Est – Rwamagana City 2-2
The Winners – Impeesa 1-2
Kirehe bye
Round 4 (27 September 2021)
Rwamagana City – Kirehe 0-1
Impeesa – Etoile de l’Est 1-3
The Winners bye
Round 5 (30 September 2021)
Kirehe – The Winners 1-0
Impeesa – Rwamagana City 3-1
Etoile de l’Est bye
Group D table
|
1 |
Etoile de l’Est |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
7-3 |
10 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
Kirehe |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
3-1 |
9 |
Qualified for promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
Impeesa |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
6-6 |
6 |
|
|
4 |
The Winners |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4-5 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
Rwamagana City |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4-9 |
1 |
|
Promotion play-offs (knock-out stage)
Quarter-finals
First leg (3 October 2021)
Amagaju – Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle 2-1
Heroes – Vision FC 1-0
Gicumbi – Kirehe 5-1
Etoile de l’Est – Rugende 1-0
Second leg (6 October 2021)
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle – Amagaju 0-0 (1-2 on aggregate)
Vision FC – Heroes 1-0 (1-1 on aggregate), 3-5 at penalty shoot-outs
Kirehe – Gicumbi 1-1 (2-6 on aggregate)
Rugende – Etoile de l’Est 0-0 (0-1 on aggregate)
Semifinals
First leg (9 October 2021)
Amagaju – Etoile de l’Est 1-1
Heroes – Gicumbi 0-1
Second leg (12 October 2021)
Etoile de l’Est – Amagaju 1-1 (2-2 on aggregate) 6-5 at penalty shoot-outs
Gicumbi – Heroes 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate)
Gicumbi and Etoile de l’Est promoted to the Premier League.
Finals (single match, neutral venue – Kigali, 15 October 2021)
Third place final
Heroes – Amagaju 1-1, 5-4 at penalty shoot-outs
First place final
Gicumbi – Etoile de l’Est 2-2, 14-13 at penalty shoot-outs
Gicumbi are the champions of the 2020-2021 Rwandan Second Division.
[1] Most of these teams were accepted back for the 2021-2022 season of the Second Division.
[2] For unknown reasons, but most likely related to COVID-19 pandemic, Rugende FC (third in Group B), Aspor FC (third in Group A), and Intare FC (fourth in Group A) did not participate in the 2019-2020 promotion play-offs, and they were replaced by Alpha FC (fifth place in Group B), Amagaju FC (fifth in Group A), and Interforce FC (sixth in Group A) respectively.
[3] Gasabo United withdrew right before the start of the competition.
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