Somalian side Gaadiidka FC caused a major upset in Kigali on Saturday, August 19, as they held Rwandan giants APR FC to a 1-1 draw in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg.
Held at Kigali Pele Stadium, the game started on a bright note for both teams and they made incursions into the half of each other.
Home side APR had the first chance to open the scoring in the 11th minute but Ally Kwitonda’s strike went off target.
Gaadiidka used the pace of danger man Pentecost Obiechina to great effect as all the balls were directed to him. Fitina Omborenga could not control the Nigerian as he always went past him on the right flank.
Sharaf haiboub was, on the other side, a delight to watch in midfield as he remained Gaadiidka’s major threat. In the 26th minute, he had the ball, dummied two Somalians before being brought down but the resultant free kick was not to put to good use.
The visitors looked so calm that they managed to cope with pressure from APR’s attackers in Victor Mbaoma and Bemol Apam Essongwe.
And they responded when an occasion came their way. Obiechina switched flanks and was located with a superb ball. He couldn’t get full control, but APR keeper Pavelh Ndzila caused a howler which resulted in the goal.
Ndzila went from his line to go as far as the corner flag to clear a harmless ball. His clearance fell to Nicholas Kagaba who curled the ball from 25 yards straight into the net in the 32nd minute.
Gaadiidka grew in confidence and took control of the game after the goal until the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half.
The second half saw APR lifting up their game and they scored the equalizer in the 47th minute through Victor Mbaoma. Right back Omborenga Fitina went on an overlapping run before crossing the ball to Mbaoma who fired home inside the penalty box to make it 1-1.
Gaadiidka quickly revised their system of play as Francois Landry sat deep in midfield as an extra man to provide the needed cover.
Abdul Mohammed provided the needed services to Obiechina as he caused problems for APR anytime he had the ball.
With ten minutes to go, APR coach Thierry Froger brought on Gilbert Mugisha for Shaiboub as the attacker shifted to the left side in a front three.
Mugisha set up Ramadan Niyibizi in the 91st minute in what could have been the match winner but the ball was blasted off target.
Gaadiidka held on tightly in injury time as the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game.
The first leg results did not go down well with some of the APR fans who have already called for the sacking of new coach Thierry Froger.
Gaadiidka will use Kigali Pelé Stadium as their home ground when the teams face off in the second leg Thursday, August 24. The winner will face Egyptian side Pyramids in the next round.
