APR FC responded emphatically to their heavy opening defeat in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup by beating Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine FC 3-1, reviving their campaign and restoring some confidence among their supporters.
The Group A match was played on Monday at Kigali Pelé Stadium as the regional tournament, hosted by Rwanda, entered its second round of group-stage fixtures.
Earlier in the day, Uganda’s Vipers SC defeated Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Gusto Mulongo, securing a second straight victory after opening the tournament with a 3-0 win over Garde Républicaine.
APR entered the match under intense pressure following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Gor Mahia in its opening game. Garde Républicaine had also lost its first fixture, making victory essential for both sides.
Head coach Taleb Abderrahim made two changes to the lineup that started against Gor Mahia. Goalkeeper Ernan Siluane was replaced by Hakizimana Adolphe, while Traore Mamadou came into midfield in place of Dauda Yussif Seidu.
Neither Siluane nor Seidu featured in the matchday squad after their performances in the opening defeat drew criticism.
APR dominated from the outset, controlling possession and creating the better chances against a Garde Républicaine side that included Rwandan defender Sibomana Patrick and former Mukura VS player, Ghanaian Agyenim Boateng Mensah.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when captain Djibrill Ouattara finished a well-worked move set up by Togui Mel William. Six minutes later, the pair combined again as Ouattara completed his brace to double APR’s advantage.
APR effectively sealed the victory before halftime when Traore Mamadou scored the third goal, giving the Rwandan champions a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw APR continue to press in search of more goals to improve its goal difference, but Garde Républicaine defended more effectively and managed to score a late consolation through Maarouf Abass in the 87th minute.
The 3-1 victory earned APR its first three points of the tournament. However, the Rwandan champions still face an uphill task to reach the semi-finals, as they remain disadvantaged by the five-goal defeat suffered in their opening match.
Garde Républicaine, meanwhile, is on the brink of elimination after suffering a second consecutive defeat and remains without a point.
After two rounds of matches, Vipers SC tops Group A with six points, while Gor Mahia FC is second with three points and a superior goal difference. APR FC also has three points but sits third because of its goal difference, while Garde Républicaine is bottom of the group with no points.
The final Group A matches will be played on July 30. APR FC will face Vipers SC at Amahoro Stadium, while Garde Républicaine will take on Gor Mahia FC at Kigali Pelé Stadium. Only the group winner will advance directly to the semi-finals.
The tournament continues with Group B action, where Mogadishu City Club of Somalia will face Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars before South Sudan’s Jamus FC takes on Tanzania’s Simba SC at Kigali Pelé Stadium.
