APR FC will need to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Les Aigles du Congo on Friday if they are to remain in the CAF Champions League, with vice-captain Nshimiyimana Yunusu confident the Rwandan champions can produce the required result in Kigali.
Les Aigles du Congo secured a narrow victory at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium in Lubumbashi on Sunday, leaving APR FC with a difficult return leg at Amahoro Stadium on Sept. 11.
Nshimiyimana, who took over as captain after Djibril Ouattara was injured and Ronald Ssekiganda was sent off, said APR FC were disappointed with the result but remain focused on turning the tie around.
“We are going to find a way to score more than two goals in Kigali. It is very possible because the team we faced is not that strong,” Nshimiyimana said.
“We will work on improving how we take our chances in front of goal. Rwandans should not lose hope. We promise them victory.”
APR FC’s defeat was accompanied by complaints over the officiating. Coach Taleb Abderrahim, players and supporters who travelled to Lubumbashi expressed dissatisfaction with some of the referee’s decisions during the match.
Nshimiyimana said the officiating made the game more difficult for APR FC.
“It was a game that went well, although not very well. We tried to do everything on the pitch and gave our all, but the referee was not on our side,” he said.
“There were some mistakes that he ignored, and that discouraged us.”
APR FC’s immediate task is to find the goals needed to overturn the aggregate score while preventing Les Aigles du Congo from scoring in Kigali.
The result means the Rwandan side cannot afford another narrow defeat if it is to advance to the second preliminary round of the competition.
The winner of the tie will face either Egyptian club Zamalek SC or AS Port of Djibouti in the second preliminary round, scheduled for October.
With their continental campaign now resting on the return leg, APR FC will have home advantage and 90 minutes to erase the deficit and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
