APR win CECAFA Kagame Cup opener

Today Group BLLB Academic vs Heegan FC 3pm Group CAdama City vs Malakia 1pmAzam FC vs KCCA 3pm SaturdayGroup BAPR 1-0 Al-Ahly Shendi Group AKMKM 1-0 TelecomYanga 1-2 Gor Mahia APR FC kicked off their campaign to a fourth CECAFA Kagame Club Championship title with a slim 1-0 win against Al-Ahly Shendi of Sudan in the opening Group B match played yesterday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Rwandan league champions struggled to impose their game and needed a special second half strike from new signing Djihad Bizimana to see off their Sudanese opponents, who bossed the midfield but lacked prowess in attack to trouble APR goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli. Jihad Bizimana, seen here in training in Kigali, scored the winning goal for APR on his debut against Al-Ahly Shendi. (Sam Ngendahimana) Al-Ahly Shendi, who faced AS Kigali in last year’s CAF Confederation Cup first round, enjoyed the upper hand and with a little bit of luck, could have been 2-0 ahead in the opening half an hour. Striker Yassir Muhammed, who gave APR’s central defence pairing of Ismail Nshutiyamagara and Abdul Rwatubyaye a torrid afternoon, twice had Ndoli to beat in the 18th and 39th respectively but somehow fluffed both chances. After a goalless first half in which APR were second best and not looking like breaking down the good-passing Al-Ahly Shendi side, coach Dusan Duje Suljagic need just ten second half minutes to make a tactical change, bringing on Issa Bigirimana for the ineffective Bernabe Mubumbyi. Bigirimana joined Michel Ndahinduka in attack and moments later, the Serbian introduced experienced midfielder Jean-Claude Iranzi in place of Fiston Nkizingabo. The two substitutions made an instant impact as APR started to take control of proceedings and Ndahinduka almost headed home a looping cross from right-back Michel Rusheshangoga but his attempt went just wide as goalkeeper Abdul Rahman Daei collided with his defender. But Bizimana, making his debut for APR and wearing the number 8 shirt which used to be worn by former defender Emery Bayisenge, showed his teammates how it’s done when he struck home a low shot from just outside the Al-Ahly Shendi 18-yard box that gave Daei no chance whatsoever. Towards the end of the match, Patrick Sibomana had his deflected shot tipped over the cross by the alert Daei while the out-of-sorts Ndahinduka squandered another inviting cross from Iranzi when a little composure would have seen him open his Kagame Cup 2015 account. Al-Ahly Shendi refused to give up as they went down fighting, winning a couple of free-kicks in threatening areas but with little success in their search for what would have been a deserved equalizer. APR’s left-back Albert Ngabo, Iranzi and Bizimana were all booked in quick succession in the closing stages but the three-time champions held on for three valuable points. APR midfielder Yannick Mukunzi was named man of the match. APR’s next game will be on Tuesday against Somali champions Heegan FC, who begin their campaign today against their Burundi counterparts, Lydia Ludic Burundi Académique. Gor stun Yanga In the late kickoff in Group A, Kenyan champions Gor Mahia came from behind to win their battle against 10-man Yanga 2-1 in a game dubbed by many as the ‘final’ before the final. Gor Mahia defender Dirkir Glay scored an own goal to give the hosts Yanga a fifth minute lead but Haron Shakava leveled for the Kenyan side towards the end of the first half. Yanga defender Gerard Ngoma was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the game after just 24 minutes and with a numerical advantage, Micheal Olunga put Gor Mahia in the lead in the 46th minute. And as the Young Africans fans thought their team would at least sneak a draw, skipper Nadir Haroub had his cheeky 74th minute penalty kick easily saved by Gor Mahia custodian Boniface Oluoch.

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APR win CECAFA Kagame Cup opener