CECAFA Kagame Cup: APR assert authority, KMC hold on as Group B begins

Rwandan giants APR FC got off to a strong start on Wednesday at the CECAFA Kagame Cup with a 2-0 victory over Burundi’s Bumamuru to begin action in Group B.

Burkinabe forward Djibril Ouattara opened the scoring inside seven minutes and former Espérance striker William Togui confirmed victory for Rwanda’s Army side with his 75th minute strike at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Group B favorites and reigning Rwandan champions displayed their intentions to challenge for the trophy early on when former RS Berkane striker Ouattara arrived to finish from close range. Ouattara’s compatriot, Raouf Memel Dao, impressed on his competitive debut for Intare with a Man of the Match performance after arriving from Ouagadougou club AS SONABEL.

Togui finished from close range from a low cross to complete a routine victory for APR, who next face Zanzibar’s Mlandege.

Mlandege made a brave effort to come back from a three-goal deficit in Wednesday’s later match but fell to 2-3 defeat to home side Kinondoni MC. Tanzanian side KMC will next face Bumamuru in a clash that will see the winner emerge as a challenger to group favorites APR as well as potential qualification for the quarterfinals as one of the best group runners-up.

Group C begins on Thursday with Sudanese champions Al Hilal Omdurman beginning play against Somalia’s Mogadishu City in the second match. The opening match will see another Sudanese club, Al Ahly SC Wad Madani, face off against South Sudan’s Kator FC.

Group A kicked off the competition on Tuesday with Kenya Police winning while Ethiopian Coffee and Singida Black Stars played to a scoreless draw.

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