Africa-Press – Rwanda. The 2024/25 Rwanda Premier League season may go down to the last day before the champions are determined.
Similar situations happened in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons where the title race went down to the wire with Kiyovu Sports slipping on both occasions at the last minute for APR to be crowned champions.
This season is no different. It is obviously a two-horse race between Rayon Sports and APR FC for the title. The two legs between the two teams ended in a goalless draw which means their games with other opponents may decide who will take the crown.
With 10 games remaining to place this campaign, the two clubs are separated by just two points with Rayon Sports leading the pack with 43 points.
Times Sport takes a look at key games remaining which can determine the title race.
Rayon vs AS Kigali (March 15)
Looking at the head-to-head, Rayon are steps ahead having won 10, drawn 5 and lost 3 in their last 18 meetings dating back to September 23, 2015.
However, AS Kigali is one team full of experienced players and they can cause havoc when you least expect it. The likes of skipper Haruna Niyonzima, Emmanuel Okwi, Hussein Shabani, Franklin Onyeabor and others are seasonal players who know the job too well.
Rayon Sports won 3-1 against AS Kigali in the first leg match during which the performance of the Citizens didn’t reflect the scoreline.
Rayon looks a bit depleted upfront as they look to do without their star striker Fall Ngagne and the game with AS Kigali will be a litmus test.
Rayon vs Mukura (March 29)
Mukura Victory Sports have become Ryaon’s nightmare, having ended their 14-game unbeaten run on January 11 as they beat them 2-1 at Huye Stadium.
Mukura is made up of talented players such as Boateng Mensah, Abdul Jalilu, Fred Niyonizeye, Elie Tatu, Jordan Dimbumba among others and they have often delivered when the stakes are high. They are the only team to beat Rayon, APR and Police FC this season.
The game with Mukura will surely open of a series of clashes as the two teams will square off again in the semifinals of the Peace Cup.
Mukura is a tough team and a hard nut to crack. Rayon will need to go all out against them and improve or they could be beaten again. This game will be vital to Rayon’s title ambitions.
Police FC vs Rayon (May 10)
The game was initially scheduled to take place on March 9 but it was replaced with the crunch derby between APR and Rayon.
The date for the Police vs Rayon game has been set for May 10. It will be a crunch encounter which could also determine if the Blues will win the title or not.
Police are not in the title race but they will love to beat Rayon Sports and spoil their party. The first round game between the two teams on January 4 ended 2-0 in favor of the league leaders and Mashami will be aiming to make amends.
Unlike Rayon Sports, who have tough fixtures, APR’s remaining 10 games are manageable though they have some tricky games which can be a bane to their success.
APR vs Amagaju (May 10)
The defending champions were due to play Amagaju in Kigali on March 9 but the fixture was shifted to May 10.
Amagaju FC defeated APR 1-0 in the first leg and they will be hoping to repeat the feat. The Nyamagabe-based side has actually been playing well away to Kigali Pele Stadium. They beat Police 1-0, and drew 2-2 with Rayon despite having a man down.
They have virtually made Kigali Pele Stadium their second home ground and they can do magic again
On paper, APR are favorite but Amagaju are capable of causing an upset.
APR vs Gasogi (March 14)
Despite APR’s Peace Cup 1-0 aggregate win over Gasogi United in the quarterfinals, coach Darko Novic admitted that they are the most difficult team he has faced this season.
Gasogi United may not have any big name on paper but they play as a unit and they can frustrate any team. It will be another onerous test for APR to scale. If they can get the needed result against Gasogi, they will be on course of winning what would be their sixth league title in a row.
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