Tuesday, February 17 Al Hilal 1-2 Al Merrikh Al Merrikh claimed bragging rights in the Sudanese derby after edging arch-rivals Al Hilal 2–1 in their first-ever meeting on Rwandan soil on Tuesday. The victory at Amahoro Stadium lifted Al Merrikh to third place in the Rwanda Premier League with 37 points, just one behind joint leaders Al Hilal and APR FC, who are level on points but separated by goal difference. The clash marked the first Omdurman Derby to be staged in Rwanda since both sides secured a temporary home in the country in October 2025. Al Merrikh went into halftime with a 1–0 lead courtesy of Obino Chisala, who struck in the 45th minute after an aggressive start from Darko Novic’s men. The early breakthrough rewarded their high pressing and attacking intent. Novic opted for a 4-4-2 formation, pairing Gilles Ramafizaro with Bachir Bangoura in attack following criticism from club management and supporters over a perceived defensive approach in recent matches. The tactical shift paid off. Ramafizaro doubled the advantage in the 66th minute from the penalty spot, putting Al Merrikh firmly in control. Despite entering the match winless in their previous six league outings, they showed composure and defensive discipline to protect their lead. Al Hilal pushed hard to respond and pulled one back through Mohamed Yousif in stoppage time (90+1). Moments later, they were awarded a penalty, but Yousif failed to convert as goalkeeper Ladji Brahim Sanou produced a crucial save to preserve Merrikh’s advantage. Frustration boiled over for Al Hilal in the closing stages, with Salah Eldin Adil receiving a red card in the 90+4th minute to effectively end any hopes of a comeback. Despite the defeat, Al Hilal remain top of the table with 38 points and three games in hand, level with APR FC. Al Merrikh now sit just a point behind in third, intensifying the title race. Between them, the two Sudanese giants have won 50 of 54 league titles — Al Hilal with 31 and Al Merrikh with 19 — and since 1992, no other club has lifted the Sudanese championship, underlining the enduring dominance of this historic rivalry.
