Rayon Sports FC advanced to the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after eliminating Cameroon’s Panthère Sportive du Ndé on the away-goals rule despite the two-legged tie ending 1-1 on aggregate. The Blues secured their place in the next round after Saturday’s goalless draw against the Cameroonian side at Amahoro Stadium, having played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Yaoundé. Rayon Sports dominated much of the game and created several clear-cut chances, but their failure to convert them kept Panthère in the contest until the final whistle. Elie Tatou Iradukunda was among Rayon’s biggest threats but missed several opportunities that could have put the game beyond the visitors. Coach Francis Haringingo replaced him with youngster Daniel Muhoza in the second half, a decision that appeared to frustrate the former winger as he walked towards the bench looking visibly unhappy. “It was not his day. He played very well but wasn’t lucky today,” Haringingo said in a post-match interview. “What happened after his substitution was just a moment of frustration on both sides, and it ends there. Nothing more. Our ambition was to advance, and we did it.” Rayon created enough chances to score three or four goals, but Panthère goalkeeper Marc Onguene produced a series of impressive saves to keep his side in the game. Didier Nshuti also came close in the second half when his header sailed over the crossbar as Rayon continued to search for the breakthrough. Despite their struggles in front of goal, Rayon Sports remained solid defensively and held on to the result they needed to progress. Their goal in the first leg ultimately proved decisive, with the tie ending 1-1 on aggregate and Rayon advancing on the away-goals rule.
