Rwanda Premier League: Rayon Sports fight back to draw Al Hilal

Guest club Al-Hilal Omdurman got off to a perfect start on Wednesday but Kigali giants Rayon Sports came back to share the points with the Rwanda Premier League leaders following a 1-1 draw.

Sudan national team midfielder Abdel Raouf put the Sudanese club champions ahead inside three minutes after a well executed counter-attack. However, substitute Faustin Likau Likoko responded with a late equalizer to give Rayon a point.

Fixture congestion taking toll on Hilal’s Rwanda Premier League title push

A recent downturn in form from Hilal has given the rest of the field hope. Eight days prior, the Blue Wave fell to Sudanese rivals Al Merrikh, the other guest club competing in the Rwandan top flight this season. While Hilal remain two points clear at the top of the table, it appears that competing in multiple competitions is taking a toll on the squad.

With a two-legged CAF Champions League quarterfinal approaching against Moroccan giants RS Berkane, the fixture congestion will not ease up in the coming weeks. The first leg will take place in Morocco on March 13, which will come in the midst of a busy schedule in Rwanda where Hilal are still making up games in hand on the rest of the competition.

 

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And on Wednesday, Rayon Sports took advantage of the situation to find a late equalizer. After missing opportunities to extend their lead, Hilal paid the price late on when a Likau’s flick header from a cross took a deflection past goalkeeper Farid Ouédraogo.

Rayon Sports are six points back of the leaders following the result, and three points back of reigning Rwandan champions and rivals APR FC.

The title chase remains close with plenty of time remaining for one of the local clubs to make a push with Hilal engaged in continental competition, while Al Merrikh are also lurking to punish any further slips from their rivals.