Wednesday, January 21 Al Merrikh vs Rayon Sports (Kigali Stadium, 15:00) Struggling Rayon Sports will be aiming to get their Rwanda Premier League title challenge back on track when they face Al Merrikh on Wednesday at Kigali Pele Stadium. The Blues have endured a difficult run of form, conceding eight goals in their last two outings. They suffered a heavy 4–1 defeat at the hands of arch rivals APR FC in the Super Cup before falling 4–0 to Al Hilal in the league. Rayon Sports now turn their focus to a crucial clash against third-placed Al Merrikh, with both sides keen to secure maximum points to remain firmly in the title race. “This is one of the toughest games that we are going to play,” Rayon coach Bruno Ferry said. “We want to make sure that we get all the points because we want to close the gap and chase the top positions.” Al Merrikh, meanwhile, could significantly boost their title ambitions with a victory. A win would see them leapfrog APR FC and Police FC to move into second place on the table. Head coach Darko Nović is confident his side is well prepared for the challenge despite acknowledging the quality of their opponents. “We have prepared well for this game and we want to secure all three points,” Nović said. “I know Rayon Sports are a tough team, but we must be ready. We have worked in all areas to see how we can get the win.” With both teams desperate for points, Wednesday’s encounter is expected to be a fiercely contested affair as the title race continues to take shape.
