Kigali City-sponsored club, AS Kigali has advanced to the CAF Confederation playoff stage on away goal advantage.

In this match, KCCA FC team entered the pitch with intentions to overcome a two-goal lead that they did not in actual sense concede in the first leg but were penalized by CAF for failing to produce the minimum number of players for a match to be played. The failure came after numerous players tested positive for COVID-19. KCCA made the effort to travel to Kigali with the minimum number of players but upon testing prior to the game in Kigali, more players returned positive tests hence the walkover.

Goal poacher Brian Aheebwa lifted KCCA FC’s hopes when he scored 1 minute after the match was well underway. In the 35th minute, the goal machine, bought from Mbarara City last season, scored another goal to bring the aggregate level and increase the chances for his side to progress to the next stage.

After conceding the second goal, AS Kigali head coach Eric Nshimiyimana substituted the midfielder and captain Ntamuhanga with a striker Ortomal Alex to align 4 forwards on pitch; Muhadjili, Lawal, and Tshabalala. 5 minutes after the break, Nigerian Aboubakar Lawal was fouled in the box and Muhadjili Hakizimana converted a penalty to give AS Kigali the aggregate lead and made the host’s task even bigger.

However, the 21 years old KCCA goal poacher Brian Aheebwa did not stop scoring and in the 77th minute, he netted the third goal for his team and his third in the game. At the time, the chances for Kampala rose again while the team from Kigali started to waste time until the game ended and AS Kigali progressed to the playoff stage.

AS Kigali will have to wait until Friday to know their opponent in the draw that will be held in Egypt on January 9, 2021.

Saturday, January 2, 2021, AS Kigali with 23 players arrived in Uganda to play the second leg match against KCCA FC in the CAF Confederation Cup.

AS Kigali is Rwanda’s flag bearers in the CAF Confederation Cup twice in a row after winning the Peace Cup in 2019. Last season, The cup was not played and completed due to COVID-19 which gave AS Kigali the chance to represent the country a second time in a row even though they had finished sixth in the league. They were eliminated at this stage last year by Uganda’s Proline FC 3-2 on aggregate.

In the first round, AS Kigali knocked out Orapa United on the away goals rule then in the second round, Rwanda side team was supposed to host KCCA at Kigali Stadium in the first leg, however, the game got cancelled because Uganda side KCCA was not able to get the number of players determined by CAF for a team to be allowed to play the continental club competition. As results, AS Kigali was awarded an automatic 2-0 win advantage.

The second leg tie will be played at St Mary’s Kitende following that MTN Omondi Stadium, home of KCCA FC failed to meet the requirements to host CAF games. The game is to be played Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 16:00 EA time.

AS Kigali travelled-squad to face KCCA FC:
Eric Ndayishimiye, Chris Rugero, Bate Shamiru, Hassan Rugirayabo, Mossi Rurangwa, Latif Bishira, Christian Ishimwe, Hassan Karera, Emery Bayisenge, Eric Nsabimana, Janvier Benedata, Rachid Kalisa, Tumaini Ntamuhanga, Shaban Hussein, Muhadjiri Hakizimana, Aboubakar Lawal, Fiston Nkinzingabo, Pierrot Kwizera, Bosco Kayitaba, Felix Ndekwe, Abeddy Biramahire, Alex Ortamal and Sudi Abdallah. The Head Coach is Eric Nshimiyimana.