Rayon Sports FC has asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to change the venue for the CAF champions league return leg match against El Hilal Omdurman following ongoing protests and demonstrations in Sudan. The match is slated for August 25 at El Hilal stadium. Jean-Paul Nkurunziza, the spokesperson for the club revealed that they have officially written to CAF through the local football body Ferwafa for the match to be relocated to a neighbouring country. “We are concerned about the security and safety of the team and this is why we are requesting CAF to change the venue because playing in Sudan will be putting at risk the lives of our players”. He added, “We are not taking this matter lightly because we understand that El Hilal didn’t train from their home stadium ahead, of their coming for the first leg which shows it is not safe for a football match”. In the first leg played at Kigali Stadium, both sides settled for a one-all draw, when Micheal Sarpong netted for the home side 20 minutes into the game, however, Nazar Hamid Nassir equalised six minutes later. The Blues will have to be at their best in the return leg and need a draw of more than two goals or a win to have a chance of progressing to the next round of the Caf Champions League. Rayon Sports’ best campaign in Africa’s most elite club competition was during the 2018 season when they reached the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
