The highly anticipated Rwanda Premier League (RPL) Match Day 15 doubleheader in Huye District, which marked the climax of the first leg, saw Mukura and Amagaju defend their home turf and claim bragging rights by overcoming league powerhouses Rayon Sports and APR.
Amagaju FC shocked APR FC 1-0, a day after Mukura Victory Sports stunned league leaders Rayon Sports 2-1, both matches held at Huye Stadium.
Mukura Victory Sports ended Rayon Sports’ unbeaten run in the 2024-25 RPL season, stopping it at 14 games with a thrilling encounter.
Jordan Dimbumba opened the scoring in the 39th minute, and Fred Niyonizeye doubled the Yellow and Blacks’ lead three minutes later, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage at halftime.
Fall Ngagne pulled one back for Rayon Sports eight minutes into the second half with a penalty, but the resilient Mukura held on until the 90th minute, despite the pressure from Rayon Sports fans who filled Huye Stadium.
The final 2-1 result in favor of Mukura set the stage for the eagerly anticipated Sunday matchup between Amagaju and APR to conclude Match Day 15 of the first leg.
What goes around comes around: While APR fans were still celebrating Mukura’s victory, Amagaju added more drama to the weekend by defeating APR 1-0, thanks to Eduard Ndayishimiye’s 56th-minute goal.
The standings at the top remained unchanged, with Rayon Sports finishing the first leg with 36 points, 5 points clear of second-placed APR. Mukura and Amagaju sat in 7th and 8th positions, respectively, with both teams having 21 points each.
The Huye district enjoyed a vibrant three-day extra-football atmosphere, with parties and celebrations extending beyond the matches and local businesses such as restaurants, bars, and hotels experiencing high demand from Friday evening through Sunday.
The RPL second leg is scheduled to begin in early February, contingent upon the national team’s participation in the CHAN tournament.
