APR face Police in all-Rwandan semis
What you need to know:
- A total of 30 matches have so far been played across two venues, yielding a total of 70 goals.
- After impressing in a cameo appearance against Azam, Allan Wanga is expected to start upfront for the Sudanese outfit alongside Mohammed Trorie against KCCA.
APR will take on Police Friday in an all-Rwandan semi-final match at this year’s this year’s edition of the Cecafa Kagame Club Championships at the Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
The other semi-final match will see Ugandan champions KCCA lock horns with Sudan’s El-Merreikh. After rigorous battle that started at the group stages on August 8, home teams APR and Police have been joined at the semis by El-Mereikh and KCCA.
The All-Rwandan semi-final match means the hosts are guaranteed a place in Sunday’s final at the 30,000-seater Amahoro National Stadium.
A total of 30 matches have so far been played across two venues, yielding a total of 70 goals.
APR will take on old foes Police from 3pm local time (4pm Kenyan time) in what promises to be a mouth-watering affair before Allan Wanga’s El-Merreikh take to the pitch from 5pm (6pm Kenyan time) against the George ‘Best’ Nisimbe-coached KCCA who overcame an inconsistent start to reach the last four.
Friday, Amahoro is expected to be full. After his team laboured to beat Burundi’s Atletico on post-match penalties in the quarter-finals, Police coach Andre Casa Mbungo has remained cautiously optimistic.
TOUGH MATCH
“It will be a very tough match because the teams know each other well,” he said in reference to their sworn rivals APR.
“We are ready for them. A thin line will separate the winners from the losers and whoever takes their chances will succeed,” he added.
Playmaker Jacques Tuyisenge, Fabrice Twagizimana and Moussa Habimana have been in sparkling form for Police but in APR, they face a battle-hardened outfit with a never-say-die mentality.
The paramilitary side showed its fighting spirit in the quarter-finals, rallying from a goal down to force a 2-2 draw against popular local club Rayon Sports and went on to claim the bragging rights in penalties.
And deadly assassin Jean Baptist Mugiraneza who converted a decisive penalty kick to sink Rayon Sport is expected to once again team up with Iranzi Jean-Claude in APR’s attack in quest for a place in Sunday’s final.
Friday’s semi-final matches will also be crucial to Kenyan striker Allan Wanga as he seeks to lift the Cecafa crown with El-Mereikh.
Wanga has blown hot and cold in the tournament, playing through injury. After impressing in a cameo appearance against Azam, he is expected to start upfront for the Sudanese outfit alongside Mohammed Trorie against KCCA.
“We are prepared for the semi-finals and we’ll face whichever team that comes along. It will be a tactical battle but we are more than prepared,” an upbeat Wanga told Daily Nation Sport after Wednesday’s win over Tanzania’s Azam.
