Rayon Sports FC head coach Djuma Masudi has hailed his team after emerging the 2016 Peace Cup champions. Rayon edged archrivals APR FC in a hotly contested final on Monday at Amahoro National Stadium.

The Malian-born Ismailia Diarra scored the lone goal of the game during additional time, sending thousands of Rayon fans who had packed Amahoro National stadium into a frenzy of excitement.

"I thank God so much for this victory. We played very well especially in the first half and got several goal scoring opportunities …we continued the dominance in the second half and created more chances, that’s how we managed to score,” Masudi said.

Diarra also hailed his teammates for what he called ‘beating APR in the final for the first time after two consecutive defeats.’

Coach Masudi said he looks forward to continue with this spirit in the league. Masudi’s team are also still with a chance in the race for the national league title.

From the first whistle, the game was played with high intensity from both sets of players, and it called for a top drawer performance from referee Louis Hakizimana to control the situation.

It is Rayon Sports’ ninth Peace Cup in total but the fourth in the post 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and the first since 2005. For interim head coach Djuma Masudi, who won the competition as Rayon Sports captain 11 years ago, it is his first trophy as coach.

This year’s final was the first between the country’s top two clubs since 2010 when APR FC came out on top (1-0) courtesy of an extra time strike from the late Patrick Mafisango.

On top of the trophy and a ticket to represent the country in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup, Rayon Sports also walked away with Rwf8m in cash prize.

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