APR struggle against Club Africain as Mukura hold Free State Stars

Wednesday APR 0 - 0 Club Africain Other results CNaPS Sport 1 - 1 Platinum Le Messager Ngozi 0 - 1 Ismaily UD Songo 0 - 2 Nkana Simba SC 4 - 1 Mbabane Swallows Leones Vegetarianos 0 - 2 Sundowns UMS de Loum 1 - 0 Lobi Stars RWANDA champions APR and Club Africain of Tunisia played out a goalless draw as a dull affair ended with both sides taking a share of spoils at Kigali Stadium on Wednesday. The two sides were meeting in the first-leg clash of their Total CAF Champions League’s preliminary round tie. Club Africain will host the return-leg at Stade Olympique de Radès on December 5. The hosts appeared the better side early on in the game, playing possession football and noticeably composed in the midfield but lacked purpose – especially in front of goal. Second-half substitute Issa Bigirimana could have benefitted from a miscommunication by Club Africain defenders to put APR ahead but his effort went wide. Buoyed on by the huge home support, especially in the second half, the military side looked sharper and grew in confidence with time and could have broken the deadlock through Bigirimana, Muhadjiri Hakizimana or Savio Dominique Nshuti, but their efforts were thwarted by goalie Charfi Saifeddine and his defenders. The visitors – Club Africain – looked comfortable and in no hurry to score throughout the game. APR will have a mountain to climb in the return-leg next week and an impulse to prevent a repeat of the 2011 nightmare when Club African thrashed them 4-0 in Tunisia to advance to the first round of the same competition. The two sides had shared a 2-all draw in the first-leg in Kigali. Mukura hold Free State Stars In the meantime, Francis Haringingo’s Mukura Victory Sports also held South African side Free State Stars to a goalless draw during the two sides’ first-leg encounter at Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg in another continental tie involving a Rwandan side on Wednesday. Mukura will host the decisive clash at Huye Stadium on December 5, looking for a home victory to avoid an early exit from the 2018-19 CAF Confederation Cup. The Huye-based side are playing continental football for the first time since 2001. editorial@newtimes.co.rw