Saturday, May 23 6pm: APR FC Vs Rayon Sports Venue: Amahoro Stadium The Rwanda FA (FERWAFA) has appointed Patience Rulisa as the center referee for the highly anticipated Peace Cup final between APR FC and Rayon Sports at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday. The two arch-rivals will face off in the season-defining final, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Rulisa will be assisted by Didier Ishimwe and Eric Mugabo as first and second assistant referees respectively, while David Kayitare will serve as the fourth official. FERWAFA’s decision to hand Rulisa the fixture is widely viewed as a strong vote of confidence in locally established FIFA referees for high-stakes matches. In previous derbies, officiating appointments often generated heated debate among supporters, with some calling for either elite international referees or more experienced veterans to take charge. Known as the “1000 Hills Derby,” meetings between APR FC and Rayon Sports are among the most intense fixtures in Rwandan football, with immense pressure often placed on match officials. APR reached the final after thrashing Etincelles 6-2 on aggregate in the semifinals, while Rayon Sports advanced on the away goals rule after a tightly contested 1-1 aggregate draw against Gorilla FC. APR also head into the final with the upper hand in recent meetings, having won four of the last six clashes between the two sides. The army side further carry psychological advantage from the 2025 Peace Cup final, where they defeated Rayon Sports 2-0 at Amahoro Stadium, courtesy of goals from Djibril Ouattara and Gilbert Mugisha
