Today

Group B

APR                         vs           LLB

Al Ahly Shendi            vs           Heegan

WITH the quarter-final ticket already in the bag, APR plan to field a changed side in their final CECAFA Kagame Cup Group B match against Burundi's Lydia Ludic Academy this afternoon at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, according to assistant head coach Vincent Mashami.

Regardless of what happens in today's game, the Rwandan league champions are assured of top spot thanks to wins over Al Ahly Shendi of Sudan (1-0) and Somalia’s Heegan (2-0) in their first two group games.

They face a team that finished third in Group A in the last eight round.

In Group A, which has five teams, Kenyan champions Gor  Mahia are top after winning their first two games, which leaves Yanga and KMKM of Zanzibar as APR`s potential quarter-final opponents.

APR, seeking to win a third regional title, are considered favourites by most observers here in Dar es Salaam but Mashami sees things differently.

"It's good to be recognized as favourites, but we don't want to be fooled by what other people are saying because, unlike in the past, all teams in this year's tournament are strong, there is no clear favourite," Mashami told Times Sport at the team's residential Durban hotel  in Dar es Salaam city centre.

He added, "But now that we are already through to the quarter-finals, we will make changes to the team that will play against LLB. Some players need to rest so that others also get the chance to play."

Lydia Ludic Academy are second in the group with two points and a win today, against what is expected to be a much-changed APR side, would seal their place in the week two of the tournament.

As for APR, two players that are out of today's clash through suspension are left back Albert Ngabo and new signing Djihad Bizimana while skipper Ismail Nshutiyamagara is likely to be among the rested players.

Head Coach Dusan Suljagic will give the likes of Andrew Buteera, Eric Rutanga, Eric 'Zidane' Nsabimana, Maxime Sekamana and Issa Bigirimana playing time to impress against the Burundians, who after back to back draws, need  a win to help their cause in pursuit for  a place in the quarter-finals.

Al Ahly Shendi, on one point, will hope to take advantage of any slip-up by LLB, assuming they also win against bottom of the table Heegan.