Mar. 17: Second legAPR FC Vs Djoliba AC 4:30pm

APR FC are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit for a place in the group stages of CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

The army side entered residential training camp on Wednesday in Shyorongi for the final phase of preparations for the return leg against Mali’s Djoliba AC de Bamako, which will be played on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium.

The Malian side jetted into the country Thursday evening and are staying at Grand Legacy Hotel.

APR FC lost away 1-0 in the first leg of the first round tie. The lone goal was netted by Cheikh Niang. APR needs to win the second leg by a two-goal margin in Kigali to be assured of a place in the next round.

The aggregate winner after Saturday’s game will play in the play-off round with the eventual winner sealing a place in the lucrative group stage.

"27 players entered residential camp at Shyorongi on Wednesday but on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the team will train at Amahoro Stadium before the game on Saturday,” a club official told Times Sport yesterday.

Officials revealed that the only players missing from camp are injured Ernest Sugira, Fiston Nkinzingabo and Abouba Sibomana.

The record 16-time Rwandan league champions, are required to win the second leg 2-0 to progress to the play-off round d of Africa’s second tie club competition.

In the preliminary round, APR edged Anse Reunion FC of Seychelles to progress to the first round.

Their opponents, Djoliba qualified to the 1/16th final without kicking a ball after their opponents, Elwa United from Liberia, withdrew from the competition due to financial constraints.

Djoliba reached the group stages of CAF Confederation Cup in 2012 while APR FC have never reached the group stages since they made their debut in Africa’s biggest club competition in 1997.

Last year, APR did not go past the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, crashing out of the competition at the hands of Zambia’s Zanaco FC.

APR FC are ranked seventh in the Azam Rwanda Premier League standings with 21 points from 12 matches, eight points behind leaders AS Kigali, who however, have played three games more.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw