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APR FC are in upbeat mood ahead of their first leg clash against Young Africans SC (Yanga) of Tanzania in the first qualification round of this year’s CAF Champions League scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali.

The match will be the first test for APR’s new head coach Nizar Khanfir, who has vowed to take off with a win against the Tanzania giants. The two sides are meeting for the second time in a continental fixture.

The 59-year-old said, "I am sure the players will give their best to win the game against Yanga. We have prepared the team very well because we know we are facing a big team.”

"We are not feeling any pressure and we expect a tough outing but we are ready. The team is motivated to win the game and that’s our ambition. The spirit is positive and players are determined to accomplish the job,” he said on Thursday.

Besides defender Albert Ngabonziza and striker Michel Ndahinduka, the rest of APR players are fully fit for Saturday’s game, while Yanga will be without their inspirational captain Nadir ‘Cannavaro’ Haroub.

Featuring former APR players Haruna Niyonzima, who is also the Amavubi skipper, ex Amavubi defender Mbuyu Twite, Yanga will be looking for a positive result ahead of the return leg next weekend in Dar es Salaam.

Yanga head coach Van Der Pluijm acknowledged that the tie will be difficult, especially the first leg, but says his team is ready for the challenge as they bid to reach the second round.

The Dutchman said, "We want to make sure that we can get a good result on Saturday, which will put us in a situation of advantage ahead of the second leg. We want a good performance and avoid conceding any goals.”

Both teams are currently in second place in their respective leagues – APR FC are second with 30 points, two behind leaders Mukura VS but with two games in hand, while Yanga have 51 points, one behind archrivals Simba SC after 22 rounds but the Van Der Pluijm’s side have played one game less.

Second meeting

It will be the second time the teams meet in a major competition since 1996 when APR eliminated Yanga in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, which was later changed to CAF Champions League, after winning 3-1.

In 2012, APR lost to Yanga in group stages 2-0 before losing again in the semi-finals 1-0 of CECAFA Kagame Cup, while in the same competition in 2008, both sides draw 2-2.

Yanga, founded in 1935, have won the Tanzanian Premier League titles a record 24 time, while APR, who were formed in 1993 and started competing in the Rwandan league in 1995, have won the league 15 times, also a record.

The return leg will be played on the weekend of March 18-20 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam with the winner of this tie over the two legs facing Egyptian giants Al Ahly or Angola’s Recreativo do Libolo in the second round.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw