April 6: First-leg Rayon Sports vs Costa do Sol April 17: 2nd leg Costa do Sol vs Rayon Sports Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed match officials for the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup Playoff round, first leg clash between Rayon Sports and Mozambican side Club Desportivo Costa do Sul. The reigning Rwandan league champions Rayon will host the first-leg clash on April 6 in Kigali while the second leg will be played on April 17 in Maputo. The aggregate winner will advance to the group stages of Africa’s second biggest club football competition. None of the two sides has ever been to group stages of any CAF competition. CAF has selected Namibian nationals Jackson Pavaza as centre referee for the first-leg encounter in Kigali, and will be assisted by Mathew Kanyanga and David Tauhulupo Shaanika while Jonas Shongedi will be the fourth official. Uganda’s Mike Letti will be the match commissioner. Ivan Minneart’s Rayon Sports will go into the first-leg clash, looking for a comfortable home victory against Mozambique’s most successful football club, before traveling to Maputo. Both sides will be meeting for the first time in any competition. The second leg will be handled by a quartet of Burundian officials, led by Thierry Nkurunziza as the centre referee. He will be assisted by Shabani Niyungeko and Ramadhan Nijimbere whereas Eric Manirakiza will be fourth official. Jerôme Kelvyn Damon is the match commissioner. Rayon dropped to CAF Confederation Cup a fortnight ago after losing 2-0 to former African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the first round of CAF Champions League. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
