Rayon Sports winger Elie Tatou has been reinstated in squad travelling to Mozambique for Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup return leg against Black Bulls in Tchumene. The forward was left out of the squad that lost 2-0 to the Mozambican side in the first leg in Kigali, amid reports of a disagreement with head coach Francis Haringingo. Tatou’s return comes at a crucial moment for the Blues, who must overturn a two-goal deficit against the Mozambican cup winners to keep their hopes of reaching the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup group stage alive. The second leg of the second preliminary round will be played at Lalgy Arena, with Black Bulls holding a commanding advantage following their first-leg victory. Tatou’s omission from the matchday squad for the opening encounter raised questions among Rayon Sports supporters and in the media, with reports pointing to possible tensions between the forward and Haringingo. Asked after the match why the player had been left out, Haringingo made it clear that the decision was his. “It’s my technical decision,” the coach said. His explanation did little to quell speculation, prompting Tatou to address the issue publicly in a message to Rayon Sports supporters, popularly known as Gikundiro, on Instagram on Monday. “Regarding the CAF Confederation Cup match against Black Bulls FC, I respect the coach’s decisions and tactical approach,” Tatou said. The forward stressed that his omission had not affected his commitment to the club or his determination to help Rayon Sports achieve their objectives. “Not being included in the matchday squad does not change my dedication, my goals, or my decision to contribute to the success of this great club,” he said. Tatou also sought to distance himself from reports of a fallout with Haringingo, insisting that rumours of a disagreement did not reflect his intentions or commitment. “I would also like to clarify that the rumours about a disagreement between me and the coach do not reflect my intentions or my commitment,” he said. He added that his focus remained on working hard, respecting the technical staff, supporting his teammates and staying prepared for whenever the team needs him. His return to the squad offers Rayon Sports another option as they attempt to overturn the first-leg deficit and keep their continental campaign on track. What led to Tatou’s omission? Despite Tatou’s public statement, questions remain over the circumstances surrounding his absence from Rayon Sports’ first-leg squad. Reports suggest the situation may have stemmed from an incident at the Nzove training facility during a friendly match played after Rayon Sports’ defeat to Gorilla FC in the BK Pro League on October 9. According to those accounts, Tatou, who started the match on the bench, allegedly questioned the need to warm up before coming on as a substitute, a move reportedly met with displeasure from the coaching staff. There have also been claims that the forward was reluctant to take part in ice-bath recovery sessions, a practice used by some teams to aid recovery after training and matches. However, the circumstances surrounding these allegations remain unclear. Tatou’s omission also came amid speculation about interest from another Rwandan club. APR FC was mentioned in reports alleging that the forward had been encouraged to take a stand against Rayon Sports in an attempt to secure his release. These claims remain unverified, and neither the player nor the clubs has publicly confirmed them. Rayon’s uphill task in Mozambique While the circumstances surrounding Tatou’s omission have attracted attention off the pitch, Rayon Sports’ immediate priority is the difficult task awaiting them in Mozambique. Black Bulls claimed a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday, leaving the Rwandan side with a significant deficit to overcome in the return fixture. Rayon Sports must win by at least three goals to secure qualification without a penalty shootout. A 2-0 victory would level the aggregate score and send the tie to penalties. Tatou’s inclusion in the travelling squad gives head coach Francis Haringingo another attacking option as the Blues look to mount a comeback and keep their continental campaign alive. Whether the forward features in the return leg remains at the coach’s discretion. Nevertheless, his return to the squad comes at a crucial moment as Rayon Sports prepare for a decisive test of their CAF Confederation Cup ambitions.
