APR FC will host Somalian champions Gaadidka FC at Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday, August 19, in the opening leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
The army side will be looking to defeat the Somalian underdogs over two legs in order to advance to the next round and face Egyptian heavyweights Pyramid FC.
APR has had mixed outcomes as they prepare to compete in the Champions League. They started the preseason on a bright note, with striker Victor Mbaoma scoring a hat trick in his first game as his club defeated Marines FC 4-1.
Thierry Froger’s side, on the other hand, have been far from convincing since, struggling in a goalless draw against Mukura VS in Huye before being thrashed 3-0 by arch rivals Rayon Sports in the Super Cup.
Despite their lackluster form, APR have a habit of burying Gaadidka FC, an African team with little pedigree, with an avalanche of goals.
Thierry Froger’s main issue is his assault, which has been extremely wasteful. Apam Assongwe and Mbaoma, for example, have yet to reach their peak. The duo has been ineffective in the club’s previous two games, failing to capitalize on clear opportunities and lasting 180 minutes without scoring.
APR’s best position is in midfield, where Sudan international Sharaf Shaiboub and Burundian Ismail Nshimirimana have excelled.
Gaadidka FC, Somalia’s champions, train at Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday, August 18.
Gaadidka FC is obviously low weight and cannot pose a danger to APR, but they do have one huge player in their roster named Pentecost Obiechina who can wreak havoc on any given day.
The Nigerian winger, who has seen it all while playing in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, must be given no place to operate because he is extremely dangerous.
On paper, APR are heavy favorites, and they need to score a lot of goals in Saturday’s game to make the second leg in Mogadishu a formality.