APR FC coach Abderrahim Taleb says his club has asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move their Champions League match against Les Aigles du Congo from the Democratic Republic of Congo because of health and security concerns.
“We cannot put our players at risk,” Taleb said after APR beat Etincelles FC 2-1 in a friendly.
The Rwandan champions are due to travel to Kinshasa for the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie, scheduled for 4-6 September.
But Taleb says APR have written to CAF asking for the match to be played at a neutral venue.
“As you know, there is Ebola in Congo,” the Tunisian coach said.
“There is also war. We are discussing with CAF whether we can play at a neutral venue.”
Taleb said the club was continuing to prepare for the fixture while waiting for CAF’s decision.
Tanzania is among the possible alternatives being considered.
“We will try our luck. We are willing and we are ready,” he said.
APR’s request comes amid worsening tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, as well as health concerns linked to the reported Ebola outbreak.
The club is not seeking to withdraw from the competition. Instead, it wants CAF to move the fixture to a neutral country where the match can be played without putting the travelling squad at unnecessary risk.
CAF has yet to announce whether it will approve the request.
Les Aigles come into tie on a high
Les Aigles du Congo will enter the tie after a 2-1 win over Tanzanian giants Young Africans in a friendly played at Uhuru Stadium.
Yanga took the lead in the 27th minute when new signing Peter Shalulile converted a penalty.
Les Aigles levelled through Talasi in the 36th minute before completing the comeback in the second half.
The victory gives the Congolese side a confidence boost ahead of their Champions League campaign.
APR, meanwhile, are looking to recover from a difficult CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign, where they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat by Kenya’s Gor Mahia at Amahoro Stadium.
Their attention is now firmly on the Champions League, although the location of the first leg remains uncertain.
For now, APR must wait for CAF to decide whether Kinshasa will remain the venue, or whether the first leg will be moved elsewhere.
In last champions league, the Rwandan champions faced heavy Egyptian giants Pyramids FC, and lost 5-0 on goal aggregate in both legs
