APR FC played to a 1-1 draw against Police FC in the 12th round of the Rwanda Premier League, setting the stage for their upcoming historic encounter with Rayon Sports on December 7, 2024, at Amahoro Stadium.
The match, originally scheduled for the weekend, was moved to Wednesday as both teams prepared for the high-stakes match between APR FC and Rayon Sports.
Police FC started the game with solid possession and created early chances, notably through Mugisha Didier. The breakthrough came in the 10th minute when Peter Agblevor made a brilliant assist to Abedi Birimana, who slotted the ball into the net to give Police FC a 1-0 lead.
However, Police FC became more defensive after scoring, giving APR FC the opportunity to push forward. In the 23rd minute, APR FC equalized when Souane Aliou found the back of the net with a header from a corner kick.
APR FC continued to dominate possession and looked to score a second goal, but Police FC’s defense, led by Ndizeye Samuel and Issah Yakubu, stood firm. In a controversial moment, Ndizeye Samuel fouled Dushimirimana Olivier, awarding APR FC a penalty, but Police goalkeeper Rukundo Onesme saved Mamadou Sy’s effort.
The first half ended with the score level at 1-1.
The second half saw immediate changes for APR FC, as Mamadou Sy was substituted for Nwobodo Chediebere Johnson. The match remained intense, with both teams attacking but failing to break the deadlock.
In the 60th minute, APR FC made another change, bringing on Ramadhan Niyibizi for Taddeo Lwanga. Police FC responded by introducing Muhozi Fred and Mandela Ashraf, replacing Jibrin Akuki and Nsabimana Eric.
APR FC continued to press for a winner, bringing on Mugiraneza Frodouard and Tuyisenge Arsene for Dushimirimana Olivier and Mahamadou Lamine Bah in the 70th minute.
Police FC also made a substitution in the 75th minute, with Ani Elijah replacing Peter Agblevor in an attempt to boost their attacking options.
As the game entered its final stages, APR FC made another substitution, bringing on Godwin Odibo for Mugisha Gilbert in the 83rd minute to strengthen their attack.
Referee Kane added 5 minutes of stoppage time, but neither team could break the deadlock, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the result, APR FC now has 18 points, sitting in fourth place, while Police FC remains in third with 19 points. Both teams will continue their respective campaigns, with APR FC now shifting focus to their crucial match against Rayon Sports over the weekend.
