CAF Confederation Cup

Group D

Today

Rayon SportsVs  USM Alger             6pm

Gor Mahia      Vs  Young Africans    6pm

Rayon Sports are optimistic for a home victory when they host USM Alger today in their third Group D game of the CAF Confederation Cup at Kigali Stadium.

Should the Blues upset the Algerian giants, they could rise to the summit of Group D with 5 points.

The 2015 CAF Champions League finalists take on Roberto Oliveira’s side without full-back Meftah Rabai, midfielder Yaya Fouzi, and goalkeepers Ismail Mansouri and Mourad Berrefane. The quartet picked up minor injuries from their recent boot camp in Kenya.

Going into today’s Group D fixtures that will also see Kenyan champions battling it out with Tanzania’s Young Africans in Nairobi, USM Alger top the pool with 4 points, two ahead of second-placed Gor Mahia and third-placed Rayon Sports. Young Africans at the bottom of the four-team table with one point.

After registering two draws in the first two games against Gor Mahia and Young Africans, the eight-time Rwandan champions will be out seeking their for first victory to remain in the race for a top two finish to advance to the round of last eight.

On the other hand, USM Alger are yet to suffer a defeat in the group campaign and will do everything possible to stretch their unbeaten run to three games after recording one victory (4-0 over Young Africans) and one draw, a goalless draw with Gor Mahia in May.

Rayon Sports head coach the Brazilian Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo sings with his players after beating Sunrise FC at Kicukiro (Sam Ngendahimana

Despite the fact that Rayon Sports are yet to lose a game at home in CAF competitions this year, most fans and pundits have tipped the visitors as pre-game favourites.

"We are very much looking forward to USM Alger game, it’s a match that will determine a lot about our future and chances in the group. I appeal to fans to come out in great numbers to back us up, their support will be of great importance,” Rayon Sports coach Roberto Oliveira Goncalves de Calmo told Times Sport in a recent interview.

Group D has proved to be one of the groups where all the teams will find points on the road extremely hard to come by, regardless of their status.

"Beating USM Alger on Wednesday (today) would be a good turning point in our group campaign, especially since we would go top of the table (depending on what comes out of Gor Mahia Vs Young Africans) game. We consider it as a must-win game,” the Brazilian tactician added.

The game will also be a historic clash for the Algerian side and Rayon as both sides meet for the very first time in any competition.

Should USM Alger beat the hosts, the Algerians will almost certainly qualify for the next stage, which would mean a bun-fight between the CECAFA teams for a place in the quarter-finals.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw