APR FC captain Ismael Nshutiyamagara has urged his teammates to forget about what happened in the first leg and focus on getting a good result in today’s second leg against Al Ahly in CAF Champions League first round at the al-Qāhirah stadium.

The Rwandan side lost 0-2 to eight-time CAF Champions League winners in the first leg in Kigali two weeks ago and will be looking to overturn that deficit to reach the next round.

"We have to give our best against a very strong team, we made mistakes in first leg but we will not do the same and we are looking forward to post a good result in the second leg,” Nshutinamagara said.

He added, "It is a very tight situation for us because we lost at home and we are playing with the best team in Africa at their home, nonetheless, we need show what we are capable of.”

It is a tall order for the military side that has appeared 12 times in the Africa Champion League, but have a rather poor record against North African opponents.

It’s their second meeting against the record eight-time African champions, Al Ahly, but the army side has played against other Egyptian sides like Zamalek, Al-Ismaily and Haras El-Hodood. In 2002, APR were humiliated by Zamalek 6-0 before playing a goalless second leg in Kigali.

In 2004, under the guidance of the late captain Jean Marie Ntagwabira, APR lost to Zamalek 3-2 in the first leg with both goals scored by Olivier Karekezi.

In the second leg, APR thrashed Zamalek 4-1 at Amahoro stadium.

Four years later, it was again APR against Zamalek, this time in the first round, APR lost in Kigali 1-2 in the first leg before losing 2-0 in Cairo in the return fixture.

Meanwhile, APR will miss the service of influential midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards.

APR coach Dusan Suljagic is expected to replace him with either Hegman Ngomirakiza or Andrew Butera to partner with youngster, Yannick Mukunzi.

As for Al Ahly, they will be without Nigerian striker Peter Ebimobowei and centre-back Mohamed Nagieb due to injuries but welcomed back into the fold skipper Mohamed Nagy Gedo, who missed the first leg in Kigali due to injury.

FIXTURES

Today

Kabuscorp           vs  El Merrikh       5pm

Kano Pillars         vs  Moghreb Tétouan

Al Ahly                vs  APR FC           7pm

Stade Malien       vs  Mangasport

Sunday

Big Bullets          vs  El Hilal           4pm

Sanga Balende     vs  Coton Sport 4:30pm

TP Mazembe        vs  Mamelodi Sundowns

AC Leopards         vs  Gor Mahia

Smouha               vs  Enyimba FC     5pm

Esperance           vs  Cosmos Bafia   6pm

CS Sfaxien           vs  AC Semassi      7pm

Raja Casablanca         vs             Kaizer Chiefs              9pm