A 10th-minute header from in-form Sharaf Eldin Shaiboub proved decisive as league leaders APR FC narrowly beat a stubborn Sunrise FC side 1-0 at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Saturday, February 10, to go 20 games without a defeat in the Primus National League.
APR FC head coach Thierry Froger against used the Sudan international as a false 9 while Alain Kwitonda Bacca and Gilbert Mugisha were feeding him from either wing as midfield duo Ismail Nshimirimana and Taddeo Lwanga provided the needed cover to ensure the team’s unbeaten run remain in safe hands.
Sunrise FC were, on the other hand, without striker Samson Babuwa who was not in the squad for the game and, in his absence, Yafesi Mubiru led their attack and he was relying on attacking backup from new signings Emmanuel Sarfo and Robert Mukoghotya.
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APR pinned Sunrise into their own half in the early stages of the game. The dominance resulted in the first goal and lone goal of the game through Shaiboub who fired them ahead with a fantastic finish in the 10th minute.
The Sudanese could have made it 2-0 in the 13th minute, only to see his effort miss the target narrowly to the relief of the Sunrise bench.
The visitors gradually lifted up their game and started building their attack from the back using central defender Frank Onyeabor. The Nigerian import surged forward on numerous occasions as he tried to find the attacking players with piercing passes.
Sunrise had a chance to equalize in the 23rd minute following an infringement against Eric Irihamye; Vincent Habamahoro stepped up and blasted his effort way off target.
In the 26th minute, Gilbert Mugisha tried to cut in from the left but he was cleverly stopped by Onyeabor who turned defense to attack with a swooping long ball.
Jean Nzayisenga broke loose on the right at the half hour mark, with Emmanuel Sarfo running ahead of him to receive a pass but the right-back decided to go for personal glory as he shot over the crossbar.
It was a real midfield battle in the final 10 minutes of the first half as Sunrise skipper Leon Uwambajimana battled Taddeo Lwanga went head to head for all the fifty-fifty balls before the teams headed into the half time break with APR still leading 1-0.
Back in the second half, Sunrise FC head coach Jackson Mayanja brought on Brian Ssali for Mukoghotya in an effort to beef up his attack.
Ssali missed a glorious chance in the 60th minute to pull parity for his side when he latched on to a through pass from Sarfo but, with goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila at his mercy, he agonizingly shot wide.
Sunrise FC took control of the game as they pushed more men forward pushing for an equalizer. A spectacular one-time pass from offensive midfielder Emmanuel Sarfo found Ssali in the 73rd minute but the attacker had a poor first touch allowing Christian Ishimwe to clear the danger.
APR FC launched a swift counter attack through Omborenga Fitina in the 80th minute but his cross lacked precision as it sailed over the post.
Habamahoro hit the upright with a ferocious 30 yards drive after receiving a cut back pass from Ssali in the 85th minute. APR responded with substitute Ramadan Niyibizi missing from an empty net after a cross from Christian Ishimwe.
Both teams held on in the final minutes of the game as APR won 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten run in the league.
The army side now firmly sit at the top of the table with 45 points, nine points ahead of second placed Rayon Sports who face Police FC on Sunday at Kigali Pele Stadium.
In other matches, Amagaju came from behind to beat AS Kigali 2-1 at Huye Stadium while Kiyovu beat Gorilla FC 1-0 as Étincelles and Etoile de l’Est played out a 1-1 draw at Stade Umuganda.