Champions League: Gaadiidka out to upset APR in second leg duel
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Gaadiidka welcome APR FC at the Kigali Pele Stadium in a CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg clash on Thursday, August 24.

Gaadiidka welcome APR FC at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Thursday, August 24 in a CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg clash.

The stadium will technically serve as the home ground to the Somalian champions who opted to stay and host their return leg in Kigali due to financial constraints.

The pair played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg on Saturday, August 19, and they will be fancying their chances of making it to the next round where Egyptian side Pyramids are waiting on their wings.

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APR might have had the shock of their life in the first leg as they didn’t expect that Gaadiidka would pull a surprisingly impressive performance against them in the first leg, sparking anger among the military side’s supporters who have started to question Thierry Froger’s tactics amid dismal results since he took charge of the team in July.

An early elimination by the Somalian minnows would completely confirm the crisis that has been reported inside the team's dressing room.

ALSO READ: 'Angry' APR FC fans-want under pressure Froger sacked

The likes of Pentecost Obiechina, Nicholas Kagaba were lively in the first leg and APR defense must keep a close eye on the attacking pair and keep them at bay if they are to avoid any major upset on Thursday.

APR will, on the other hand, be relying on the services of midfield trio of Sharaf Shaiboub, Ismail Nshimirimana and Taddeo Lwanga who need to up their game to dictate Gaadiidka in that department.

Shaiboub was in his elements in the first leg and was by far the best player in the APR team before being substituted in the 80th minute. He is primed to put up another great show again on Thursday.

In attack, Thierry Froger has to make some changes indeed. The attacking pair of new signings Apam Assongwe and Victor Mbaoma have struggled a lot in the first leg and it is about time one of them is benched for either Gilbert Mugisha or Innocent Nshuti.

Having stayed in Kigali for a week, Gaadiidka FC have had ample training time and if APR underrate them, they will be regretting after 90 minutes.

Froger, his technical team and the players are currently under incessant pressure from the fans following their recent poor performances. Only eliminating Gaadiidka could determine the future of the French gaffer.