As APR crash out of Champions League

Yesterday’s result

Club Africain 4-0 APR (Agg 6-2)

APR’s woes in Africa’s premier club football competition ‘the orange champions league’ continued yesterday after being knocked out by Club Africain of Tunisia.

The primus league champions suffered yet another premature exit after a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Stade Olympique Menzah in Tunis.

After being held to a 2-all draw in the first leg, the military side marched into yesterday’s tie looking to repeat last year’s feat when they overturned a 2-2 draw in Kigali by beating Angolan side Recreativo 1-0 in Luanda.

Unfortunately, things fell apart right from the start. Just five minutes into the game, APR’s head coach Ernie Brandts was forced to bring on Joseph Bwalya for the injured Malawi international Victor Nyirenda.

13 minutes later, defender Bilal Iffa scored to give the hosts a 1-0 half time lead.

Brandts’ half time talk did not yield any results as Club Africain doubled their lead on the 49th minute from the spot kick after a reckless challenge by Bebeto Lwamba on Wissem Ben Yahia.

Strikers Ezechiel Ndouassel and Youssef Mouihbi compounded APR’s misery with goals on the 73rd and 74th minutes.

Despite the defeat, sources within the APR camp yesterday revealed that the club had lodged an official complaint to the match commissioner for the poor officiating.

"The referee made very poor decisions. Victor Nyirenda was fouled and no card was given. Even the penalty awarded to Club Africain was very dubious,” one of the club officials who preferred anonymity fumed.
"We have already filed a complaint against this injustice,” he added.

Following their elimination, APR will turn their focus on the MTN Peace Cup and Primus league were they still enjoy a 100 per cent record after nine games.

APR squad that played yesterday:

Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Bebeto Lwamba (Heriman Ngoma), Mbuyu Twite, Tchimaga Mutamba Sadi, Donatien Tuyizere, Kabange Twite, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Joseph Bwalya, Jean Claude Iranzi (Didier Logba), Victor Nyirenda (Joseph Bwalya), Haruna Niyonzima.

Ends