APR BBC outlasted REG BBC 64-61 in overtime, snapping REG’s six-game winning streak and tightening their hold on the Rwanda Basketball League standings.
Shorthanded APR BBC edged REG on Friday night in a dull game at BK Arena, reinforcing their league supremacy.
The army team and defending champions entered the game missing several key players, including big man Aliou Diarra, who was injured in Wednesday’s game against Espoir.
With Diarra sidelined, along with Adonis Filer, Israel Otobo, and Chris Ruta, REG hoped to capitalize on APR’s weakened lineup, not only to end APR’s strong form but also to break their long losing streak against them, which included a 3-0 playoff sweep last season.
APR’s Osborn Shema returned to the court for the first time since his national team duties, but his limited playing time added complexity to the team’s chemistry, leaving them relying heavily on their backcourt.
Rayon Sports defeated Gorilla FC 1-0 in the second leg of the Rwanda Peace Cup 2025 quarterfinals, securing the final spot in the tournament’s semifinals.
Rayon Sports secured the final spot in the last four after defeating Gorilla FC 1-0 in the second leg of the quarterfinals on March 6 at KPS.
Hadji Iraguha’s lone second-half goal sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory, overturning a 2-2 first-leg draw. The Blues now join APR FC, Mukura Victory Sports, and reigning champions Police FC in this year’s semifinals.
Rayon Sports, aiming for their first Peace Cup title since 2023, will face Mukura Victory Sports, the 2018 winners, in the semifinals. Mukura previously defeated Rayon Sports in the league at Huye Stadium, setting up a competitive two-legged tie.
Meanwhile, APR FC, Rwanda’s most decorated club and record Peace Cup winners, will face defending champions Police FC. Both teams narrowly advanced from the quarterfinals—APR progressed on away goals against Gasogi United, while Police edged AS Kigali 4-3 on aggregate.
The four semifinalists boast a combined 30 Peace Cup titles: APR leads with 13, followed by Rayon Sports (10), Mukura (5), and Police (2), including their most recent triumph.
The winner of the Rwanda Peace Cup earns the right to represent Rwanda in the CAF Confederation Cup.
REG BBC narrowly edged Kepler 72-71 in a thrilling Wednesday night game in the Rwanda Basketball League, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash against APR BBC on Friday. APR also secured a victory, defeating Espoir 86-79, but now faces injury concerns ahead of the matchup.
Rwanda Basketball League games on Wednesday at Petit Stade kept APR and REG’s unbeaten runs intact ahead of their faceoff on Friday.
Captain Olivier Shyaka’s clutch three-pointer rescued REG in a thrilling game that lasted until 1 AM. Kepler was leading until the final three seconds, but the seasoned Shyaka nailed a three-pointer to preserve REG’s unbeaten record.
Shyaka, who came off the bench to contribute 13 points, managed only one crucial three-pointer, while Cleveland Thomas and Jean Jacques Boissy continued to lead REG’s offensive plays.
Cleveland scored a game-high 20 points, and Boissy chipped in 16. The victory for Odaudu Ogoh’s REG adds excitement to Friday’s matchup against defending champions APR, who triumphed over Espoir in another thrilling game.
APR narrowly escaped an Espoir comeback, entering the final quarter with a 15-point lead. However, Nyamirambo-based Espoir scored 28-20 in the final period, narrowing the gap to just 7 points, with the game ending 79-86 in APR’s favor.
APR’s Ntore Habimana scored 20 points, William Robeyns added 16, and Antino Jackson Alvalezes also contributed 16 points. Espoir’s Fortunate Mwanabene led all scorers with 24 points.
However, APR faces injury concerns as big man Aliou Diarra suffered an ankle injury, adding to the team’s growing list of doubtful players. With Adonis Filer sidelined, Osborn Shema ill from the national team, and Otobo Israel injured during the inaugural Super Cup, Diarra’s injury could further impact APR ahead of the Friday matchup.
Aliou Diarra’s injury is a major concern for APR as they prepare to face REG on Friday.
REG and APR remain unbeaten with a 6-0 record in the Rwanda Basketball League 2025, positioning themselves as the top title contenders this season.
Cleveland Thomas has been a key contributor to REG’s 6-0 start.
The highly anticipated game is scheduled for Friday night at 9 PM at BK Arena, with REG looking to avenge last season’s APR playoff sweep in their quest for back-to-back league championships.
Kampala, March 3 – The CAVB Zone V Club Championship concluded with Rwanda’s APR Volleyball Club teams securing both the men’s and women’s titles, dethroning defending champions Police VC and Kenya’s Pipeline.
In the women’s category, APR WVC stunned East African powerhouse and reigning Kenyan champions Pipeline in an intense four-set final.
As Rwanda’s sole representative in the women’s competition, APR dominated their opponents from the group stage to the final, overcoming hosts Sport-S and ultimately defeating Pipeline.
Peter Kamasa’s squad overcame a first-set loss to rally past Pipeline, winning 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-23).
The men’s team had a challenging path to the final, showing determination by sweeping Nemo Stars in the quarterfinals and REG in the semifinals to set up a clash with reigning champions Police VC.
APR took the first set 26-24, but Police, led by Fred Musoni, leveled with a 25-19 win. APR regained control, winning the next two sets 25-18 and 25-21 to secure their first CAVB Zone V Club Championship title under coach Sam Muligye.
Ambroise Tashobya, NCS chairperson, handed the trophy to APR.
This loss marks only the second defeat for Police VC this season, both at the hands of APR.
Following their outstanding performances, APR’s players also claimed the most individual accolades. Diane Mpuhwezimana was named both the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Setter in the women’s category.
APR’s Ghanaian setter, Paul Akan, won the MVP title in the men’s category.
The 2025 CAVB Zone V Club Championship was the third edition for men, with Rwanda continuing its dominance as no men’s team outside the country has yet won the title. In the women’s category, this was only the second edition, with Pipeline winning the inaugural tournament.
The 2025 edition underscored Rwanda National League’s supremacy in regional volleyball, as no club outside the country managed to defeat a Rwandan team in either category.
APR WVC, Rwanda’s only women’s representative, won the title, while all three Rwandan men’s teams secured podium finishes.
The hosts, Sport-S, secured third place in the women’s category.
Attention now shifts to the Rwanda National League playoffs, with APR WVC as the third seed. The APR-Police rivalry could lead to another thrilling final if they overcome Kepler and REG in the first round.
The reigning champions, Police VC, defeated hosts Sport-S in a thrilling tie-breaker—a rematch of last edition’s final—to secure an all-Rwandan final in the CAVB Zone V Club Championship 2025, held in Kampala, Uganda.
Rwanda National Police VC edged Uganda’s Sport-S in a tie-breaker on March 3, repeating their previous final victory in the first semifinal of the 2025 CAVB Zone V Club Championship.
Police capitalized on their quarterfinal rest after advancing past Cobra by walkover, while Sport-S battled through a tough Uganda derby against Kampala’s powerhouses, Nemo Stars.
Memory Dube’s Sport-S, having eliminated KAVC in straight sets, entered the semifinal determined to avenge their previous final defeat, fueled by strong support from the Lugogo crowd.
Zimbabwean Memory Dube is the only woman to coach a men’s team in the 2025 CAVB Zone V Club Championship.
The well-rested Police VC claimed the first set 25-22, but Sport-S, the current Uganda Volleyball League champions, responded with a 28-26 win, igniting the home spectators.
Police, carrying their domestic dominance onto the international stage, took the third set 25-22 and started the fourth set strongly.
However, as hosts of the CAVB Zone V Club Championship, Sport-S fought back valiantly. Led by Jonathan Tumukunde, Duke Kyomukama, Kathbart Malinga, and veteran Otim Dikens, they mounted a fierce challenge against Police VC.
Kathbart Malinga was instrumental in the fourth set, forcing a tiebreaker.
The high-intensity fourth set saw Sport-S level the match 2-2 after a thrilling 30-28 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
The final set was one-sided, as the fresh-legged Matheus Bettim Sekamana returned to the court alongside Eric Kwizera ‘Kiganza’, Emmy Twagirayezu, Shyaka, and Eliphas Makuto. Their solid coordination with Crispin Ntanteri’s passes made it difficult for the hosts to keep up.
Last edition’s MVP, Crispin Ntanteteri, connects with Emmy Twagirayezu.
Sport-S struggled to withstand Police VC’s powerful spikes, eventually falling 15-7, ending their CAVB Zone V Club Championship campaign once again at the hands of Rwanda’s Police VC.
With this 3-2 victory, Police VC advanced to the final, ensuring an all-Rwandan showdown as the second semifinal featured REG VC and APR VC.
In the women’s final, APR WVC is set to take on Kenya’s Pipeline. Pipeline, the defending champions, will be looking to retain their title, with all finals scheduled to take place later today at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
Reigning Rwandan champions APR Women VC dominated Uganda’s Sport-S with a commanding 3-0 victory, securing their second consecutive win in the ongoing CAVB Zone V Club Championship.
Lugogo, March 1 – APR registered back-to-back wins in the championship, clinching a semifinal spot and strengthening their title ambitions.
Following a straight-set victory over Uganda’s VVC, the 2023-24 Rwanda National Volleyball League champions stunned Sport-S, the tournament hosts and one of Uganda’s legendary clubs, in a match that lasted 1 hour and 17 minutes.
The army team took the first set 25-20, the second 25-17, and sealed the win with a dominant 15-15 third set.
Their consecutive group-stage victories secured a semifinal berth in the women’s category.
In a post-match interview, APR’s head coach, Peter Kamasa, who consistently attributes success to divine intervention, praised both God and his players for following instructions.
“I am a man helped by God. I can prepare everything the right way and still not achieve a positive result, but with God’s hand, everything falls into place,” Kamasa stated.
He added, “We played well, but most importantly, the players followed my instructions. This tournament provides hope, especially for young talents like Diane and Alba [Albertine], who are developing their skills on the path to professionalism.”
“The Zone V Championship highlights emerging players, paving the way for them to secure opportunities abroad, which boosts confidence for the future.”
According to Kamasa, the CAVB Zone V Club Championship presents a valuable challenge that will help shape APR’s end-of-season performance.
Peter Kamasa, APR’s head coach
“The intense competition we are facing here will strengthen us and build confidence for the upcoming National League playoffs and the CAVB Club Champions League,” said the reigning Rwandan champion.
Team captain and receiver-attacker Valentine Munezero reaffirmed that APR’s primary goal remains lifting the CAVB Zone V Club Championship trophy.
“We are in the semifinals now, but we take it one game at a time. Our ultimate goal is to win the trophy. We are here to fight for it,” Munezero stated confidently.
Rwanda’s APR will face KCB Nkumba in the semifinals. Should they emerge victorious, they will take on the winner of the Sport-S vs. the defending champions Pipeline in the final.
The CAVB Zone V Club Championship 2025 began on February 27, with Police VC launching their title defense with a dominant straight-sets win over Uganda’s Nemo Stars
Police VC cruised past Nemo Stars 3-0 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, aiming to clinch back-to-back Zone V Club Championship titles and become the first team to achieve this feat.
Setter Crispin Ntanteteri, the MVP of the last edition, continues to dictate Police VC’sgame in the CAVB Zone V Club Championship
The Rwanda Volleyball League leaders dominated the match, winning comfortably with 25-15, 25-20, and 25-19, marking their first victory in Group A.
Next, Police VC will face Tanzania’s Jeshi Stars on Friday at 11:30 AM EAT at Old Kampala Arena, while Nemo Stars will battle Burundi’s Rukinzo at 8:00 PM at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
The reigning champions of the CAVB Zone V Club Championship, Police VC
Elsewhere, Kenya Pipeline stunned Ndejje Elites with a straight-sets win (3-0) in another highly anticipated match on the tournament’s opening day.
The previous edition of the championship was held in November 2023 at Kigali’s BK Arena, where Kenya Pipeline dominated the women’s final on November 19, sweeping Rwanda Revenue Authority 3-0.
In the men’s competition, Police VC rallied from a set down to defeat Uganda’s Sport-S 3-1 to claim the title.
The CAVB Zone V Club Championship 2025 marks the third edition of the tournament and the first to be hosted outside Rwanda. In the men’s category, the previous titles were claimed by Gisagara VC in 2019 and Police VC in 2023, both representing Rwanda.
APR FC and Rayon Sports once again dropped points in Huye District on Rwanda Premier League (RPL) Matchday 18, with APR falling to Mukura and Rayon Sports being held by Amagaju.
Rayon Sports were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Amagaju a day before APR suffered a 1-0 defeat to Mukura in a Huye doubleheader that headlined RPL Round 18.
Nyamagabe-based Amagaju, who play home matches at Huye Stadium, extended their strong run against the league leaders. After a 2-2 first-leg draw in Kigali, they again frustrated Rayon Sports, coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.
Fall Ngagne put the blues ahead in the 31st minute, but Amagaju’s top scorer, Ciiza Useni Seraphin, equalized in the 79th minute.
Ngagne netted his 13th goal of the season to stay atop the scoring chart but suffered a serious injury, possibly ending his campaign. Seraphin, with nine goals, trails him in the race.
A day later, the defending champions entered their match against Mukura with hopes of closing the gap at the top of the table. However, former Amagaju forward Destin Malanda struck in the 17th minute, and APR failed to respond for the remainder of the match, sealing Mukura’s 1-0 victory.
Mukura avenged their first-leg 4-2 defeat, in which they had initially led 2-0 before Army team staged a comeback to claim all three points.
Amagaju and Mukura have remained unbeaten against APR and Rayon Sports at Huye Stadium, firmly defending their home turf in the 2024-25 RPL season.
Amagaju have remained unbeaten against APR and Rayon Sports at Huye Stadium in the 2024-25 RPL season.Mukura have defeated both APR and Rayon Sports in the 2024-25 RPL season.
Despite dropping points, Gikundiro lead the standings with 41 points from 18 matches, followed by APR with 37. Mukura sits sixth with 27 points, while Amagaju are ninth with 23.
Uko urutonde rwa Shampiyona ruhagaze nyuma y’imikino 7 y’umunsi wa 18 imaze gukinwa.
Rwanda secured a spot in FIBA AfroBasket 2025 after defeating Gabon 81-71 in the final window of qualifiers. The victory placed them third in Group C of the AfroBasket Qualifiers with a 2-4 record.
Rwanda wrapped up their qualification campaign with a dominant performance against Gabon on February 23 at Salle IBN Yassine in Rabat, Morocco.
Facing the group’s weakest side, Rwanda led from start to finish without trailing at any point in the game.
Due to a lack of dominant big men in the paint, Rwanda relied heavily on their three-point shooting, similar to their previous game. As a result, Gabon dominated the boards (50-38) and paint (46-22), but Rwanda’s ball movement and perimeter shooting made the difference, hitting 13 of 37 threes against Gabon’s 3 of 17.
Ntore Habimana delivered another standout performance, posting 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Axel Mpoyo added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Cadeau de Dieu Furaha contributed 14 points.
Gabon’s 20-year-old forward Daniel Quentin Akoue led his team with 18 points.
The Rwanda national basketball team qualifies for AfroBasket 2025
Rwanda has been a consistent presence in AfroBasket since their debut in 2007, only missing the 2015 edition. Hosting the tournament in 2021 was a significant milestone for the country.
Rwanda’s best AfroBasket finish was ninth place in 2009 in Benghazi.
Now, they join Angola, DR Congo, South Sudan, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Tunisia, Guinea, Cape Verde, Libya, Uganda, and Nigeria in the 16-team tournament set for August in Angola.
Rabat, February 22— Rwanda suffered a narrow 86-83 defeat to Cameroon in the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers Window 3, extending their losing streak and leaving their qualification hopes hanging until the final game.
Rwanda, eager to secure AfroBasket 2025 qualification, faced an already qualified Cameroon but struggled in the paint—just as they did against Senegal—due to a lack of dominant big men.
Despite their difficulties attacking the rim, Rwanda relied heavily on three-point shooting, a strategy that worked well until the final moments.
Dr. Sarr’s team led for most of the game, but momentum shifted in the last two minutes after Ntore Habimana (17 PTS, 6 REB, 9 AST, 4 STL) fouled out.
Ntore Habimana
Axel Mpoyo led Rwanda’s offense with 26 points, shooting 7-of-12 from behind the arc, as the team made 16-of-38 from three-point range. However, Cameroon’s resilience proved too much to overcome.
Rwanda’s loss was largely due to their failure to score any second-chance points, while Cameroon had 13.
They now face a must-win game against Gabon or must avoid losing by more than 27 points to qualify for AfroBasket 2025 in Angola.
