President Paul Kagame has congratulated French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on winning the UEFA Champions League, describing the triumph as "well-deserved” after a dramatic final that was decided on penalty shootouts in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday.
PSG retained their European crown after drawing 1-1 with Arsenal before prevailing 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout to secure their second consecutive Champions League title.
Arsenal took an early lead through Kai Havertz in the sixth minute, but PSG levelled in the 65th minute when Ousmane Dembélé converted from the penalty spot after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled inside the box.
The match remained deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation time. Following 30 minutes of extra time, during which neither side could find a winner, German referee Daniel Siebert let the penalty shootouts have the final say on the encounter.
In the shootout, Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães both failed to convert, while Nuno Mendes missed for PSG. However, the French side held their nerve to claim a 4-3 victory and lift the trophy.
"Congratulations to our Visit Rwanda partner Paris Saint-Germain on their well-deserved UEFA Champions League title and on being crowned champions for the second consecutive year,” Kagame wrote on X.
The Head of State also praised Arsenal for their impressive run to the final and their resilience throughout the tournament.
"Congratulations as well to Arsenal on reaching the final and fighting with determination until the very end. Both clubs have made their supporters proud, but tonight, PSG proved to be the better team,” he added.
The defeat extends Arsenal’s jinx for the European crown which is among very few major honours missing in their trophy cabinet.
It was an all-Visit Rwanda final affair as the two clubs have an existing partnership deal with Rwanda.
Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Jean-Guy Afrika, Minister of State for Sports Rwego Ngarambe, Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) Deputy CEO Maëva Haguma, Rwanda’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Johnston Busingye and Rwanda’s envoy to France François Nkulikiyimfura were among more than 78,000 spectators who packed the Puskas Arena for the final.