APR FC Beats AZAM FC to Move Forward in CAF Champions League

On Saturday, APR FC knocked out AZAM FC in the first round of the 2024-2025 CAF Champions League with a 2-0 win at Stade Amahoro.

APR FC started the game down 1-0 from the first leg, but they quickly took control. The first 15 minutes were full of passing and good play in the midfield, but no clear chances at goal. AZAM FC defended well, but attackers like Mamadou Sy, Ruboneka, and Gilbert Mugisha couldn’t break through early on.

AZAM FC stayed strong, trying to counterattack quickly. APR FC, though, got the first corner kick of the game early on, but they couldn’t score from it. AZAM’s midfielders, including Feisal Salum and Johnier Blanco, didn’t create many chances, either.

As the game went on, APR controlled the ball better and better. They kept pushing forward while AZAM mostly relied on their forwards, Salum and Blanco, to do something. Then, in the 44th minute, APR’s Gilbert Mugisha made a clever pass to Claude Niyomugabo, who sent in a cross. Ruboneka Jean Bosco was in the right place to score after AZAM defender Cheikh Sidibe lost focus. The goal brought the game level on aggregate, and the teams went into halftime with APR leading 1-0.

At the start of the second half, AZAM FC made changes to their lineup, bringing on Pascal Msindo to replace Sidibe. Still, APR stayed strong. In the 61st minute, they scored again after a scramble in the box. Mamadou Sy missed a chance, but Mugisha was there to finish it off and make it 2-0.

AZAM FC struggled to create chances. Despite some substitutions and a brief opportunity for Blanco, they couldn’t break through APR’s solid defense. APR’s fans, even some from their rivals, Rayon Sports, cheered them on as they maintained control of the game.

APR made substitutions to keep fresh legs on the field, but they continued to dominate. Even when injuries led to more changes, they stayed focused.

AZAM FC had little to show in attack and spent the last 10 minutes desperately trying to score a goal that could have kept their hopes alive. A 2-1 result would have seen them advance due to the away goal rule, but they couldn’t make it happen. After 96 minutes, the final whistle blew, and APR FC celebrated their 2-0 win.

APR FC will now face Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the next round of the Total CAF Champions League. Pyramids recently won 9-1 on aggregate against JKU of Zanzibar. Last year, Pyramids knocked APR out of the competition with a 6-1 aggregate win after a 0-0 draw in Kigali.