SC Kiyovu and APR will put their topflight league rivalry aside and shift it to the Peace Cup when the pair face off in the cup semi final encounter on Wednesday afternoon at Bugesera Stadium. Kiyovu are in pole position to win the 2023 Rwanda Premier League title but the team looks hungrier to finish the season with the double to end their title jinx in incredible fashion as they also target to win the Peace Cup. Looking at the head-to-head record, SC Kiyovu have only won twice against the army side in their last 18 meetings. APR won 12 times while four matches ended with a draw. Based on history between the two clubs, APR has an upper hand on the semifinal fixture ahead of Kiyovu who have been struggling for such a major title since 1993, just like the top flight league title. So many have predicted Kiyovu’s 2022/23 season as a historic campaign as long as they can conclude the season with a title after 30 blank years. And the same season could turn sour for Ben Moussa’s APR side which could end the season without a trophy should they get knocked out of the cup tournament while the topflight league also looks to be going Kiyovu’s way with two games to go. The Peace Cup semifinal between the pair promises to be decisive especially for APR who have not won the cup since 2017. Moussa will be out to silence his critics by beating Alain-Andre Landeut who has been tasked to guide Kiyovu to the title. But the Green Baggies would also feel happier to add the cup to their trophy cabinet having previously claimed it as Rwanda Cup in 1975 and 1985. The winner of the tie will face either Mukura or Rayon Sports in the final and the champions will automatically secure a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
