APR on 'mission impossible'

APR FC captain Ismael Nshutiyamagara has urged his teammates to forget about what happened in the first leg and focus on getting a good result in today’s second leg against Al Ahly in CAF Champions League first round at the al-Qāhirah stadium. The Rwandan side lost 0-2 to eight-time CAF Champions League winners in the first leg in Kigali two weeks ago and will be looking to overturn that deficit to reach the next round. “We have to give our best against a very strong team, we made mistakes in first leg but we will not do the same and we are looking forward to post a good result in the second leg,” Nshutinamagara said. He added, “It is a very tight situation for us because we lost at home and we are playing with the best team in Africa at their home, nonetheless, we need show what we are capable of.” It is a tall order for the military side that has appeared 12 times in the Africa Champion League, but have a rather poor record against North African opponents. It’s their second meeting against the record eight-time African champions, Al Ahly, but the army side has played against other Egyptian sides like Zamalek, Al-Ismaily and Haras El-Hodood. In 2002, APR were humiliated by Zamalek 6-0 before playing a goalless second leg in Kigali. In 2004, under the guidance of the late captain Jean Marie Ntagwabira, APR lost to Zamalek 3-2 in the first leg with both goals scored by Olivier Karekezi. In the second leg, APR thrashed Zamalek 4-1 at Amahoro stadium. Four years later, it was again APR against Zamalek, this time in the first round, APR lost in Kigali 1-2 in the first leg before losing 2-0 in Cairo in the return fixture. Meanwhile, APR will miss the service of influential midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards. APR coach Dusan Suljagic is expected to replace him with either Hegman Ngomirakiza or Andrew Butera to partner with youngster, Yannick Mukunzi. As for Al Ahly, they will be without Nigerian striker Peter Ebimobowei and centre-back Mohamed Nagieb due to injuries but welcomed back into the fold skipper Mohamed Nagy Gedo, who missed the first leg in Kigali due to injury. FIXTURES Today Kabuscorp vs El Merrikh 5pm Kano Pillars vs Moghreb Tétouan Al Ahly vs APR FC 7pm Stade Malien vs Mangasport Sunday Big Bullets vs El Hilal 4pm Sanga Balende vs Coton Sport 4:30pm TP Mazembe vs Mamelodi Sundowns AC Leopards vs Gor Mahia Smouha vs Enyimba FC 5pm Esperance vs Cosmos Bafia 6pm CS Sfaxien vs AC Semassi 7pm Raja Casablanca vs Kaizer Chiefs 9pm

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APR on 'mission impossible'