But Etincelles’ Orange Confed. Cup match to go on

APR’s Orange Champions League return leg against Tunisia’s Club Africain has been delayed due to the on-going Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Sudan. The army side contributed the lion’s share of Rwanda’s national team in Sudan and according to Caf rules, if a team contributes more than three players; the match has to be postponed.

The match, initially scheduled for the weekend of February 11-13, will now be played towards the end of February or early March.

"If Amavubi don’t make it to the semi-finals, the APR-Club Africain match will be played on February 28 but if they do qualify, the game will be played in the first week of March,” the local football governing body (Ferwafa) CEO Jules Kalisa confirmed.

In the first leg, APR showed their mental strength and maturity when they twice came from behind to secure a 2-all draw at Amahoro Stadium.

The North Africans needed only 16 minutes to take the lead through Khaled Melliti’s free kick. Moments later, APR left back Donatien Tuyisenge put the military side back on level terms with a vicious shot from 40 yards.

But two minutes later, Hamza Messadi benefitted from a mix-up in the APR defence to slot in a second for the Tunisians. Club Africain looked like they were headed for a win until APR won a penalty which Jean Baptist Mugiraneza a.k.a Migi neatly converted to secure a 2-all draw.

On a related note, Etincelles’ Orange Confederation Cup return leg remains unchanged. The Western Province side takes on Congo’s AC Leopards this weekend in Rubavu.

Biefiet Kabanda is the only Etincelles player in Sudan.
Etincelles who received lots of applauds after holding the Congolese to a 1-all draw in Pointe Noir in the first leg, need a goalless draw to reach the next round.

Ends