AS KIGALI have turned attention to their Super Cup match against Rayon Sports on Tuesday after failing to reach the playoffs round in the CAF Confederation Cup at the weekend. The City of Kigali-sponsored side bowed out of the continental competition in the first round after a 2-1 defeat to Uganda’s Proline at Lugogo Stadium on Saturday. The two side’s first leg had ended in a 1-1 draw at Kigali Stadium. Still disappointed by the loss, head coach Eric Nshimiyimana told this publication yesterday, “We are starting preparations for Rayon Sports immediately. It is disappointing that we are out of continental football this early, but we have no time to pity ourselves.” In Saturday’s away defeat, Farouk Ssentingo netted the consolation goal for Nshimiyimana’s side with eight minutes to clock after striker Ivan Bogere had scored twice in the 12th and 15th minutes to hand the hosts a comfortable early lead. “The Confederation Cup helped me to assess the standard of each player in the team, and I believe that will help us as we enter a new season, starting with the Super Cup match.” The Super Cup match, which pits the league champions and winners of the Peace Cup, also serves as a curtain-raiser for the new season. After the Super Cup against Rayon, the 2018-19 Rwanda Premier League champions, AS Kigali will only have three days to regroup before taking on giants APR in the 2019-20 league opener. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
