It remains unclear who, between APR FC and Kiyovu SC, will win the Rwanda premier league since neither of the sides is showing signs of slowing down.
While Kiyovu are taking every game like a final, it is APR who have an upper hand on the title race as they now sit top of the table with 57 points, just a point ahead of the Green Baggies
Weekend Sport looks at where the title race for the top flight league will be won and lost ahead of the season-defining campaign.
The fixture run-in
According to the fixture schedule, Kiyovu have the easier fixtures on paper compared to APR, including a match between them.
The military side faces tough tests against AS Kigali and Police FC but Adil Erradi and his team know that it won’t be easy for them to get positive results against both sides.
The Mumena-based club hopes to see their rivals drop points but that won’t count for much if they don’t win their remaining fixtures.
APR’s remaining fixtures: Espoir (Away), Kiyovu (Home), Gorilla (Away), AS Kigali (Home) and Police (Away)
Kiyovu’s fixtures: Bugesera (Home), APR (Away), Etoile de l’ Est (Home), Espoir FC (Away), Marine (Home).
The May 14 affair
The clash between the two sides slated for May 14 remains the key decider for the title race, one of the toughest in years.
If Kiyovu can dream of winning their first league title in 29 years, they must beat the army side to boost their chances of winning silverware.
But Adil Mohamed Erradi and his boys know how to win the league title, having won the trophy for the past two years, unbeaten.
Current form
Kiyovu have been in electric form during the second half of the league, having managed to beat every top six club they faced including the likes of Mukura, Police, Rayon Sport and AS Kigali in the process.
The Green Baggies managed to collect 27 points out of a possible 30 points from which they won nine games in their last ten fixtures. They only lost to Gasogi United.
Meanwhile, APR has been struggling for results since Mukura ended their 50-match unbeaten run in February.
Since then the club dropped more points in the second half of the league, following defeat against Musanze FC and two draws against Rayon Sports and Mukura.
Kiyovu need to quickly bounce back from their recent Peace Cup elimination, and win each of the remaining fixtures to keep their league title dream alive.
Experience
When it comes to experience, it is APR FC who know how to win the premier league compared to Kiyovu who last won the title 29 years ago.
The military are in a league of their own when it comes to winning domestic titles despite the fact that it is composed of a young squad.
Moroccan coach Adil Erradi restored the winning DNA in the club since his arrival in 2019 to end Rayon Sports’ two years of dominance. He inspired APR to the league title unbeaten in the first season before repeating it last season.
Kiyovu, on the other hand, have been in chaos for the past few years until the arrival of Francis Haringingo at the beginning of this season.
The Burundian turned the club into a team to beat which is ready to pose a threat to any opponent including title rivals APR.