PR FCAPR FC’s Kagame Cup dream came to an end after a dramatic 3-1 defeat to Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman in the semifinals of the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup.
The highly anticipated clash began cautiously, with neither side testing the goalkeepers in the opening 20 minutes. APR broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Memel Dao’s sharp cross found William Togui, who slotted home the opener to give the Rwandan champions a 1-0 halftime lead.
Al Hilal came out firing after the break, piling pressure on APR’s backline, but goalkeeper Ivan Ruhamyankiko stood tall with a string of brilliant saves. APR looked to double their advantage through Ruboneka Jean Bosco and Dao, but chances went begging.
The Sudanese side’s persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when Abdelrazig Taha pounced on a rebound to level the score at 1-1, forcing extra time.
In the 93rd minute, APR’s defense was punished after Ruboneka’s back pass was intercepted by Sunday Damirale, who calmly slotted in to make it 2-1 for Al Hilal. The knockout blow came in the 106th minute, when Ahmed Salem capitalized on another rebound to seal a 3-1 victory.
With the loss, APR FC falls short of the Kagame Cup final, while Al Hilal marches on in pursuit of regional glory.
