Rwanda Premier League champions APR FC continue to flex their financial muscle in the early weeks of the ongoing June-July transfer window as the club prepares to make a proper go in the CAF Champions League next season. The record 23-time league winners will be not only aspiring but also hoping to reach the group stage of Africa's premier club football competition. APR are not dithering in reinforcing their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, showing renewed intent to dominate the domestic scene while finally cracking the code to reach the CAF Champions League group stages — a milestone that has long eluded them. Under the stewardship of newly appointed Moroccan coach Taleb Abderrahim, the army side have already made several high-profile signings, headlined by the return of right-back Fitina Omborenga. The 29-year-old Rwanda international rejoined APR after a brief but controversial stint with arch-rivals Rayon Sports. His return adds immediate pedigree to the squad and could be symbolic of a new chapter for the club — one that marries ambition with experience. Excuse me, for, I could be reading too much into his return and APR's overall aspirations for next season. We have been here before when the club made marquee signings with little or no return on investment, at all. The army side have, over the years, spent hundreds of millions of Rwandan francs, (the estimates could even go into over a billion) on players transfer fees, but the club has never played in the group stages of neither CAF club competitions. Several players have transferred from Rayon to APR, which, given the rivalry between the two clubs, is a major move in Rwandan football. Some notable examples include, among others, Bokota Labama, Haruna Niyonzima, Olivier Niyonzima, Ange Mutsinzi, all of whom joined APR as free agents. Omborenga’s reunion with APR comes after he publicly accused Rayon Sports of breaching contractual obligations, including unpaid recruitment fees and delayed salaries. His decision to terminate the deal midway through a two-year contract and return “home” reflects not only the player’s comfort with APR’s professional structure but also the club’s ability to lure back top talent. Footballers' careers are short and it's not rocket science to understand why they would opt to go to a club where their future (after playing) is more secure and predictable. While Rayon can't guarantee that, APR do. Yet Omborenga is only the tip of the iceberg in APR’s summer business so far, most of it at the expense of Rayon, whose house seems to be in constant disarray with no silver lining in sight. Just a day prior to his (Omborenga) unveiling, the club announced the acquisition of several players, among them are Hadji Iraguha and Hakim Bugingo (both from Rayon), and goalkeeper Adolphe Hakizimana from AS Kigali. Others include, midfielder Pacifique Ngabonziza from Police FC, and Burkinabe youngster Raouf Memel Dao from Sonabel. These moves reflect APR’s strategic transfer approach — targeting proven domestic performers and adding continental flair. Dao, in particular, is a statement signing. At just 21, the Burkina Faso international is coming off an excellent season, scoring five goals and three assists in 29 games enroute to being named player of the season in his country’s top flight. He was a target for Tanzanian Premier League side Singida Big Stars. His arrival addresses a key area in midfield where APR previously lacked creativity and consistency in high-pressure continental fixtures. Will he come good? No one knows, but for the good of the domestic league and Rwandan football in general, we all pray he does. Maybe, Rayon fans could have other ideas, for, they delight in APR's failure, and the reverse is true for the latter. With such acquisitions, expectations are naturally high. APR's targets are crystal clear: retain the Rwanda Premier League title and the Peace Cup, and — most importantly — make a deep run in the CAF Champions League. Despite their domestic dominance, with 23 league titles in their trophy cabinet and considerable investment over the years, APR have never reached the group stages of any CAF club competition as opposed to the Blues’ historic 2017/18 season when they reached the CAF Confederation quarterfinals. The appointment of Abderrahim, a 61-year-old veteran coach with extensive experience across Moroccan football signals the club’s intention to bring tactical experience to the continental stage. However, his career has been marked by short-lived stints, raising questions about his longevity and adaptability in a new environment. Still, Taleb’s proven ability to organise and discipline teams could be precisely what APR need. His runner-up finish with Difaa El Jadida in Morocco’s Botola Pro Ligue in 2017 shows he can compete at a high level. Whether he can translate that success to Rwanda and Africa’s top competition remains to be seen. He replaces Serbian Darko Novic, who was sacked before the end of the 2024/25 season. Omborenga's return brings not just quality but leadership to the right flank, while the youthful energy of Dao and the local talent acquired reflects a squad being built with depth and balance. The competition for places will be fierce, which may help raise standards across the board. It's upon Taleb to find the winning formula. While the new-look APR looks formidable on paper, success in the CAF Champions League will depend on more than just talent. Tactical maturity, squad harmony, and mental resilience in hostile away fixtures will be crucial. With an improved squad and a tactician hungry for silverware, APR’s dream of stepping onto the Champions League group stage no longer feels out of reach, again, at least on paper. For a club that has so often fallen short on the continental stage, 2025/26 could be the year they finally arrive. But just, maybe. And if this aggressive transfer window is any indication, APR aren’t just planning to participate — they’re gearing up to compete. So I can assume. Poor me. Always optimistic!
