APR, El Mereikh storm Cecafa final

Semi-final Yesterday KCCA 2-2 El Mereikh (Pen. 0-3) Police FC 0-0 APR (Pen. 2-4) APR Football Club will need to beat El Mereikh in Sunday’s final at Amahoro national stadium to lift their fourth Cecafa Kagame Cup title. Rwandan champions reached their fourth consecutive final on home soil with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win against local rivals Police FC yesterday at Kigali Regional Stadium after the game ended scoreless in 120 minutes. History seems to favour the army side, having won all the last three finals on home soil–in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Sudanese champions El Mereikh also needed post match spotkicks to overcome KCCA of Uganda 3-0 in the other semi-final following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes. APR scored their penalties through skipper Ismael Nshutinamara, Yannick Mukunzi, Patrick Sibomana and Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza. Police went out after Jacques Tuyisenge and Jimmy Mbaraga had their spot kicks saved by impressive goalie Olivier Kwizera, while Jerome Sina, Mossa Habimana converted theirs. Police coach Andre Cassa Mbungo introduced Steven Ntalibi in the place of Marcel Nzarora as the shootouts approached, but the substitute goalie managed to save only one kick–from Eric Rutanga. APR’s stand-in coach Vincent Mashami brought on Mukunzi for Bernabe Mubumbyi and Sibomana for Djamar Mwiseneza with both scoring their spot kicks. First game In the first game of the day, El Mereikh opened the scoring through Mohamed Traore on the 33rd minute, while KCCA equalised on the 50th minute through Tom Masiko. The Sudanese went ahead on the 76th minute through Abdalla Abdalate Ragi but the Ugandans levelled six minutes later through Brian Omony. Both sides went for winner in extra time in vain. On the 108th minute Omony hit the woodwork. In the penalty shoot-out, Omony, Brian Majwega and Masiko all missed for KCCA. Faisal Musa, Gabril Balla and goalkeeper Salim Omar Magoola were the shootout heroes for El Mereikh, while Allan Wanga missed his kick.

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APR, El Mereikh storm Cecafa final