Rayon Sports activities’ hopes of qualifying for CAF membership soccer subsequent season suffered a serious setback after they had been held to a 1-1 draw by Gorilla FC on Friday at Kigali Pelé Stadium.
The consequence assured APR FC a spot in subsequent season’s CAF Champions League because the highest-ranked Rwandan membership within the BK Professional League, regardless of shedding the league title to Sudanese aspect Al Hilal. In the meantime, a victory over AS Muhanga may see Kiyovu overtake Rayon Sports activities into fourth place.
Rayon Sports activities head coach Francis Haringingo made a number of notable adjustments to his beginning XI forward of the essential fixture. First-choice goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera missed the sport by sickness, whereas key gamers Elie Ganijuru, Gloire Tambwe and striker Asman Ndikumana began on the bench.
Defender Youssou Diagne was additionally dominated out by harm.
Ben Aziz Dao, Fabrice Nshimiyimana, Likau Kitoko and Yves Habimana had been handed beginning roles as Rayon looked for a must-win consequence to maintain their fading title hopes alive.
Regardless of dominating massive parts of the Matchday 32 encounter, Rayon Sports activities had been left pissed off after lacking a number of clear-cut possibilities in opposition to a disciplined Gorilla FC aspect.
Gorilla FC struck first within the seventeenth minute by Hesbon Rutonesha, in opposition to the run of play. The ahead capitalised on one of many guests’ few attacking alternatives to stun the house crowd and hand Gorilla a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Rayon Sports activities responded strongly after the break, pinning Gorilla FC deep inside their very own half for lengthy durations. Nevertheless, poor ending continued to let the hosts down regardless of creating quite a few possibilities by sustained stress.
Their persistence lastly paid off within the 84th minute when Abed Bigirimana scored the equaliser to rescue some extent for the Blues.
The draw finally proved pricey for Rayon Sports activities, because it allowed APR FC — now second on 59 factors, eight forward of Rayon with solely two matches remaining — to safe their standing because the highest-ranked Rwandan staff within the league.
