APR FC striker Cheick Ouattara Djibril has set his sights on seeing both APR FC and Rayon Sports reach the group stages of African club competitions in the 2026/27 season, describing it as his biggest ambition for the new campaign.
The Burkina Faso forward shared his wish after receiving the top scorer award at the BK Pro League Awards, following an outstanding season in which he scored 18 goals in the Rwanda Premier League.
Ouattara, who was presented with the award by former Rwanda international striker Meddie Kagere, credited his success to the support of APR FC’s leadership, coaching staff and teammates.
“I am happy to receive this award. I thank APR FC, the management, coaches and my teammates because they all contributed to this achievement,” he said.
The striker added that his main focus now is on helping Rwandan clubs make history on the continental stage.
“This year, I have one wish: to see APR FC and Rayon Sports reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup,” Ouattara said.
APR FC qualified for the CAF Champions League after winning the 2025/26 Rwanda Premier League title, while Rayon Sports earned a place in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The upcoming campaign will mark APR FC’s seventh consecutive appearance in the CAF Champions League. However, the club has never advanced beyond the qualifying rounds to reach the group stage despite its dominance in domestic football.
Rayon Sports remains the only Rwandan club to have reached the group stage of a CAF interclub competition. The club achieved the milestone in the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup, where it progressed to the quarter-finals before being eliminated.
The preliminary round first-leg matches for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup are scheduled for September 4–6, 2026, giving Rwanda’s representatives time to strengthen their squads and prepare for the continental challenge.
