FC Les Aigles du Congo are planning to travel to Kigali on the day of their CAF Champions League return leg against APR FC and leave Rwanda shortly after the match, in a move linked to health precautions surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The two sides will meet at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, September 11, at 6 p.m., with Les Aigles holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lubumbashi.
The Congolese club is reportedly planning to avoid an overnight stay in Kigali, travelling on match day and returning home after the game.
The approach mirrors APR FC’s decision for the first leg in Lubumbashi, where the Rwandan champions travelled to DR Congo and returned after the match rather than staying overnight.
APR FC had cited concerns over Ebola and security in DR Congo when seeking changes to the fixture arrangements. The club’s request for a neutral venue was reported earlier this month.
The planned travel arrangements have also fuelled speculation that Rwanda had refused to host the Congolese club.
But Les Aigles du Congo secretary-general Olivier Pengongo dismissed those reports as false.
Speaking to Radio Okapi, Pengongo said the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) had informed its Congolese counterpart, FECOFA, that the club was expected in Kigali.
He said the main requirement was compliance with health measures designed to prevent the spread of Ebola.
An initial delegation from Les Aigles du Congo left Lubumbashi on Wednesday morning, September 9, for Rwanda ahead of the rest of the team’s arrival.
On the pitch, APR FC face a difficult task after losing the first leg 1-0. The Rwandan champions need to win by at least two goals to overturn the deficit and reach the next round.
APR have previously overturned a first-leg defeat at home. In 2024, they eliminated Tanzania’s Azam FC after winning the return leg in Kigali 2-0 following a 1-0 defeat in the first leg.
The winner of the tie will meet either Egyptian giants Zamalek SC or AS Port of Djibouti in the next round. Zamalek won the first leg 2-1 in Djibouti.
With Les Aigles arriving with a one-goal advantage and APR needing a strong home performance, Friday’s return leg will determine which side keeps its CAF Champions League campaign alive.
