After the first round elimination from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Ahly on Saturday, APR defender Albert Ngabo admitted that the Egyptian side were too strong for them.

The Rwandan champions lost 2-0 in the second leg to eight-time African champions in Cairo. Moemen Zakareya scored both goals to complete a 4-0 aggregate score over two legs, having won by the same score in Kigali two weeks ago.

"They were too strong for us, and also we missed two key players (Jean Baptist Mugiraneza, skipper Ismail Nshutinamagara) which was bad to us,” the experienced fullback told Times Sport on Monday.

The former Rayon Sports player added, "It was great match and great experience for us, it was tough because we played with the best team in Africa and it shows that we have to improve our game significantly, if we are to compete well against the top teams on the continent.”

The military side has appeared 12 times in the Africa Champion League, but have a not so good record against Egyptian teams.

APR failed to impress against other Egyptian sides like Zamalek, Al-Ismaily and Haras El-Hodood who all managed to eliminate Rwandan champions.

Once in 2004, under late captain Jean Marie Ntagwabira, APR lost to Zamalek 3-2 in the first leg before turning tables on the Egyptians 4-1 at Amahoro stadium.