Rwandan Champions APR FC will play as guests to emerging Egyptian powerhouse Pyramids FC at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo on September 29 in a CAF Champions League second round second leg game. ALSO READ: APR struggle at home in barren draw with Pyramids The 30,000-capacity June 30 Stadium in Cairo is the home ground of Pyramids FC. They hardly lose games at home. APR dominated the first leg in Kigali on September 17 but failed to convert the chances they created as the game ended goalless. North Africa has been a waterloo for the army club over the years. And they will be aiming to exorcise that debacle once and for all by eliminating Pyramids FC . ALSO READ: Pyramids FC: A guide to APR’s next Champions League opponents But it is going to be a herculean task for APR considering the form of Pyramids FC. Football, however, defies logic and, everything is possible. Times Sport takes a look at six things APR needs to do to get the required results in Cairo. Only a scoring draw, or a win, will see them in the next stage of the competition. ALSO READ: Can APR FC end Northern African clubs hoodoo? Hold Ramadan Sobhi Pyramids FC came to Kigali without star player Ramadan Sobhi and they dearly missed him in that game. The former Stoke City and Huddersfield Town attacker is the biggest player in the Pyramids team having been bought from the latter for £5 million in 2020. He was injured prior to the first leg and could not travel to Kigali. Sobhi is now fit and he netted a sublime volley in the 2-2 league game draw with Zamalek on September 21. APR must hold or contain Sobhi, a very versatile player who can play anywhere in attack. One moment of brilliance from him can decide the game. Tighten up in central defense The pair of Salomon Bidjeme and Yunus Nshimiyimana did a perfect job in Kigali in the first leg by holding the likes of Fiston Mayele Kalala and others in Pyramids’ attack. They may have to do extra work in the return fixture since Cairo will be a different atmosphere altogether. If the duo plays and they are able to hold their fort at the back, APR can get the needed results. Cut Pyramids FC on the wings Typical of any North African side, Pyramids FC uses the wings. And that is where most of their attacks are launched. Their traditional number 7 and 11 do all the damage on the flanks and whip in crosses for the strikers in the box to finish off. Skipper Omborenga Fitina and left-back Christian Ishimwe must not always overlap as they will definitely be caught off guard – on the counter – and may not be able to recover. Instead, they must cut Pyramids off from the wings and force them to play through the middle where they would struggle. Play to the whistle The 30,000-capacity June 30 Stadium is very intimidating. The fans will make a lot of noise just to distract APR when the going is getting tough and the Rwandan Champions should be attentive. They must constantly make sure that they play to the whistle so as not to be caught unawares. APR players must also avoid rampant complaints to the referee and just allow the captain to talk to the referee so as not to attract unnecessary bookings. APR attackers had better be clinical Coach Thierry Froger must stick with Victor Mbaoma and Gilbert Mugisha upfront or start with the former and pack the midfield. He used Mbaoma as the lone ranger up front in Kigali and it worked to perfection before bringing on Mugisha in the second half. Froger must be tactically disciplined by using strategies that can balance his team, especially in attack. Get the balls to Shaiboub Sharaf Eldin Shaiboub Ali, 29, is not new to the CAF Champions League as he is one of the experienced players in the APR setup. The Sudanese midfielder who previously played for the likes of Simba SC in Tanzania was arguably the best player in the first leg. He runs a one-man show in midfield. Shaiboub is a complete midfielder. He can tackle, pass, dribble, and also score with long-range drives. Taddeo Lwanga and Ismail Nshimirimana who are likely to pair with him must try and release balls to him so often as he can do the magic for the team.
