Do or die for Rayon Sports

AL FASHER. One-time winners Rayon Sports face a daunting task against Ports of Djibouti in a game the Rwandan league champions must win to be assured of a place in the quarter-final of the Cecafa Kagame Club Championship this afternoon at Al Fasher stadium.Rayon squandered a good chance to qualify to the last eight when the defence failed to contain Express FC in the 2-1 defeat against the Ugandan side in the second Group B match at Al Nugga stadium on Saturday.With just a point from their first game against Electric Sport of Chad, the Blues find themselves sitting bottom of the group after today’s rivals Ports stunned the Chadian with a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile APR finished second in Group A after drawing 1-1 with Vital’O in their final group game played on Sunday. Jean Marie Girukwishaka gave Vital’O the lead after 90 minutes before Emile Bayisenge equalised for APR. Both teams finished level in everything but Vital’O qualified as group leaders on coin-toassing. Ports, which is boosted with three Rwandan players namely Jean Bosco Gasana, Yahaya Serubungo and Jean Paul Niyibabarira sneaked into the last eight and need a draw against Rayon to be sure of finishing among the best two-placed teams.However, Rayon Sports’ head coach Didier Gomez da Rosa has not given up on reaching the last eight although a Ports victory would complicate their calculations.“I have not yet given up on qualification. We must beat Ports to boost our chances of playing in the next round. We failed to convert our chances against Express but I am happy with the determination and ability exhibited by the players,’ the Frenchman told Times Sport after Saturday’s loss.He added, “Had we played the whole game like we played in the second half, we could have won but it was not to be case, so we have to focus on the next match.”Rayon Sports’ shaky defence has conceded five goals in two matches.Key players missingThe Blues face the Ports without stand-in skipper and impressive midfielder Fuadi Ndayisenga, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the first two games.The other absentee centre back Faustin Usegimana aggravated his back injury against Express after playing 45 minutes. The absence of the duo gives Donatien Tuyizere and Leon Uwambazimana the chance to earn places on the starting team.Ports lead Group B standings with four points and a better goal difference over Express, who also have four points.Rayon Sports and Elect Sport are tied on one point each and if they win their last group matches, they will not still be granted automatic qualification because only three best placed teams qualify, meaning that goal difference and head to head scenario could come into play.Quarter finalists will be picked from Group A [3], Group B [3] and Group C [2].URA, Al Ahly Shandy progress to quartersUganda Revenue Authority (URA) and home side Al Ahly Shandy marched into the last eight as two best placed sides from Group C.Al Ahly Shandy tops Group C with four points, while URA is second on three points leaving Al Hilal Kadougli lying bottom with one point.The tournament is partly sponsored by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and is due to conclude on July 1 in Darfur. The winning team will win $30,000 in prize money, the runners up will take $20,000, while $10,000 is set aside for the third-placed team.