WELL aware of the gigantic task ahead in the next round of the Orange Champions League, APR’s assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana reckons that the team has no time to relax.

After seeing off Angola’s Recreativo do Libolo, the league champions face an even tougher test in TP Mazembe, the reigning African champions.

On the team’s return from Angola early this week, Nshimiyimana told Times Sport that APR have to be at their very best to stand any chance of pulling off an upset against the Congolese side that dominated African football last year.

"I don’t need to explain the task the lies ahead. We all know what a strong side TP Mazembe is and how hard the team has to prepare to match them.”

"We need to use all the available resources to have early preparations for this tie because we are so close to the group stages.”

APR stormed the second round of the lucrative competition after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Recreativo in the Angolan town of Calulo.

Ivorian born midfielder Selly Rogba Didier ensured APR’s qualification with a 78th minute winner to give the military side a 3-2 aggregate. The first leg in Kigali had ended in a 2-all draw.

The first leg between APR and TP Mazembe will be played on the weekend of March 19-21 while the return leg is scheduled for April 2-4.

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