March 13Zamalek vs Rayon Sports

Rayon Sports are upbeat ahead of their first leg tie against SC Zamalek in the first round of Orange Caf Confederation Cup slated for March 13 at the Third Army Military stadium in Suez, northeastern Egypt.

"The players will give their best like they did against Panthère to reach this round. We have prepared the team very well because we know we are going to face an even bigger team,” Interim head coach Sosthene Habimana said.

Habimana acknowledged that the match will be difficult especially in the first leg. "But we will make sure we do not concede goals and we will look for an away goal which will help us in the second leg,” Habimana noted.

The Blues defeated Cameroonian side Panthère Sportive du Ndé 2-0 on aggregate after scoring in either legs in the preliminary round.

The last time Rayon Sports played against an Egyptian side was in 2006 against Al-Ittihad Al-Iskandary losing 3-0 away but a 1-0 win in Kigali in the second leg was not enough to help them qualify to the next round.

In the Caf Champions League in 1999, Al Ahly beat Rayon Sports 3-0 in Egypt but the Blues won the return leg 1-0 but failed to eliminate the Egyptians. In 2002, Zamalek thrashed APR 6-0 in Egypt before being held to a goalless draw in Kigali.

In 2004, Zamalek defeated APR 3-2 in the first leg in Egypt but the army side thrashed the Egyptians 4-1 in Kigali to eliminate them.

Rayon Sports’ delegation of 25 left Kigali yesterday at 4pm aboard Ethiopian Airways and will arrive this morning. The Blues received over Rfw20m from the Ministry of Sports and Culture.In their last Egyptian league game, Zamalek played to a 1-1 draw against ENPPI on February 8 where 22 Zamalek supporters died on the field after forcing their way into the stadium.

Squad: Gerard Bikorimana, Djihad Bizimana, Aphrodis Hategekimana, Jean Paul Havugarurema, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Pierrot Kwizera, Peter Otema, Moses Kanamugire, Frank Lomami, Huberto Sincere Manzi, Isaac Muganza, Robert Ndatimana, Fuadi Ndayisenga, Eric Ndayishimiye, Vivien Niyonkuru, James Tubane, Faustin Usengimana and Leon Uwambazimana.