After guiding Amavubi to the quarter-finals of the just concluded Africa Nations Championship in Rwanda, center back Emery Bayisenge now wants to do the same with APR in the CAF Champions League, starting with the preliminary round tie against Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland.

The 15-time record champions APR will play the first leg away to Mbabane Swallows at Somhlolo national stadium in Swaziland’s capital on the weekend of February 12-14 before hosting the return leg tie in Kigali a fortnight later.

Last year, the military side ousted Liga Desporiva of Mozambique 2-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round before losing 4-0 to Egypt’s Al Ahly in the first round. DR Congo’s TP Mazembe are the reigning African champions.

Bayisenge, who made history by scoring the first goal of CHAN 2016, played a key role as the hosts reached the last eight of a major tournament for the first time.

"What’s important now is the game against Mbabane Swallows, winning it would be a very good turning point. All players and staff are looking forward to the game, and we want to win it,” Bayisenge told Times Sport.

The 21-year-old added, "We have to work hard to ensure that we keep a clean sheet in the first leg away from home in order to give ourselves a good chance to finish off the job in the return leg match in-front of our home fans.”

DR Congo won the CHAN title for the second time after thrashing Mali 3-0 on Sunday at Amahoro National Stadium, thanks to Jonathan Bolingi and a brace from Elia Mechak, who finished as the tournament joint top scorer with four goals, and was named best player of the tournament.

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