All roads lead to the Kigali Pele Stadium, Nyamirambo as APR FC take on eternal rivals Rayon Sports in a crunch Rwanda National Primus League grand derby rendezous.
Dating back to 1995, the two clubs have met 100 times in official games with APR winning 43 times against Rayon's 32 while 25 matches ended level.
The local derby is happening at a time neither team sits at the top of the league table, which is very unusual. Despite going into the game unbeaten so far this season, APR FC are second with 17 points and only trail leaders Musanze at the summit on goal difference.
Winning the derby would see the army side move top of the standing should Musanze falter at the hands of AS Kigali.
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Seventh-placed Rayon Sports have, on the other hand, had a slow start to the season, collecting just 12 points from a possible 21 points.
It’s performance that cost Yamen Zelfani his job after just two months at the club. The Blues are now settling for life after the Tunisian whose absence on the touchline is good undoubtedly good news for Thierry Froger and his men.
It is important to note that Rayon Sports are unbeaten in the last three meetings with APR FC. The most recent one was a 3-0 victory in the Super Cup on August 12, 2023.
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Looking at their form this season, APR is the only team in the league who are yet to lose a game as they have won five and drawn twice whereas Rayon have lost one, drawn three and won three in seven games.
Mauritanian interim coach Mohammed Wade will be happy to have star forward Joackiam Ojera back in action after spending two weeks on the sidelines through injury while in-form midfielder Heritier Luvumbu will also be looking to build on his hat trick heroics against Etoile de l’Est to punish APR in the derby.
Ojera was the hero in their previous meeting, setting up two goals during Blues’ 3-0 Super Cup win in August.
But APR FC free-scoring striker Victor Mbaoma isn’t going to sleep until he scores against Rayon to justify the money he was paid to sign for the army side. The Nigerian striker has scored five goals so far and he will be looking forward to making Abdul Rwatubyaye and Isaac Mitima suffer in defense.
The derby also means a lost to Frenchman Froger who wants to recover from a 3-0 humiliation in his first derby to winning Sunday’s encounter to prove his worth. Otherwise, his employers will begin to question his performance.
Either he helps APR pay the Blues back in their own coin or he puts himself under pressure or even on the brink of the sack.
It will be a great game, great atmosphere, and quality football is all football fans are anticipating to witness.