Rwandan champions APR booked ticket to the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup semifinals after Monday’s 1-1 draw with SC Villa at the KMC Stadium saw them finish the group stages at the top.

The Lions amassed 7 points out of a possible 9 from three Group C games, hence automatically qualifying for the last four of the regional tournament. SC Villa can still qualify as the best second-placed team after they finished the group stages unbeaten with 5 points.

APR FC coach Darko Novic started the game with a 4-3-3 formation as Olivier Dushimimana, Victor Mbaoma and Gilbert Mugisha led the attack as his preferred from three.

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It was APR who looked more purposeful in the quarter hour mark. Skipper Claude Niyomugabo and Mugisha perfectly linked up on the left side of attack as they pinned the SC Villa defenders into their own half.

Dushimimana and Mbaoma also looked very lively with their attacking play as they combined to pose a major attacking threat on David Owori and his teammates.

APR broke the deadlock in the 30th minute through a fabulous finish from Dushimimana. The opener brought more urgency to the army side which was looking hungrier to score more goals.

Ramadhan Niyibizi threatened to increase the tally in the 40th minute but good piece of defending from the SC Villa’s back line marshalled around Arnold Odong curtailed the danger.

SC Villa had the last laugh in the first half as they pulled even in the 45+1 minute through Najib Yiga.

The first half ended with the scores level at 1-1 though APR FC had been the better side.

After the break, Novic’s men played a more relaxed game by closing all empty spaces as Peter Onzima and Patrick Kakande failed to operate.

APR’s midfield led by Bosco Ruboneka soaked the pressure and occasionally played on the counter using the lace of Mugisha.

Goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila came to the rescue for APR with a fine save in the 60th minute mark while Mbaoma also forced Villa keeper Braddy Wokorach to over work.

Novic was forced to make a change in the 63rd minute as he brought on Mohamadou Sy for injured Mbaoma. Midfielder Seidu Dauda also came in for Taddeo Lwanga who looked exhausted.

The changes brought more power to the fold of APR as they took control of the game once again but Villa players remained focused as they pushed for a winner which would have helped them steal their Rwandan opponents a ticket to the semifinals.

However, APR defended gallantly in the final 10 minutes of the game as Dieudonne Ndayishimiye came on for Olivier Dushimimana in the 80th minute to give backup in defense.

The Lions held their might with excellent defending by Clement Niyigena as the game ended 1-1.

In the second Group C match Singida Black Stars FC defeated El Merriekh Bentiu 3-1 at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

The Tanzania Premier League side, which lost their first two matches, took a 2-0 first half lead with goals from Marouf Tchakeh and Edmund John.

After the interval Jack James pulled one back for the South Sudan side after 47 minutes but Singida continued pushing forward and scored their third goal through Ayou Lyanga.

The semi-finals take centre stage on July 17.

The champions of CECAFA Kagame Cup will walk away with a cash prize of US$30,000, the runner-up US$20,000 and the third placed US$10,000.