APR FC will Saturday, August 19, welcome Somalian champions Gaadidka FC to the Kigali Pele Stadium in a CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg game.
The army side will be hoping to dispatch the Somalian minnows over two legs as they seek to set a date with Egyptian giants Pyramid FC in the next round.
APR have had mixed results they embark on the be Champions League campaign. They started the preseason in highflying form when striker Victor Mbaoma bagged a hat trick on his debut game as his team thrashed Marines FC 4-1.
However, Thierry Froger’s men have since been far from convincing as they struggled during goalless draw against Mukura VS in Huye before they were thumped 3-0 by bitter rivals Rayon Sports in the Super Cup.
Despite their uninspiring form, APR have the tendency to bury Gaadidka FC, a team with no pedigree in Africa by an avalanche of goals.
Thierry Froger’s biggest problem is his attack as they have shown high profligacy. The likes of Apam Assongwe and Mbaoma are yet to hit their top form. The duo has been poor in the club’s last two games as they missed glaring chances, going 180 minutes without a goal between them.
APR’s strongest hold is their midfield where the likes of Sudan international Sharaf Shaiboub, Burundian Ismail Nshimirimana have been superb.
It is evident that Gaadidka FC is light weight and cannot be a threat to APR but they have one big player in their team called Pentecost Obiechina who can cause havoc any day.
The Nigerian winger who has seen it all playing in Slovakia and Czech Republic previously must be given no room to operate as he can be very dangerous.
APR are firm favorites on paper and they must score so many goals in Saturday’s game to make the second leg in Mogadishu a mere formality.
