APR FC crowned a historic night in Ngoma with a narrow 1-0 win over Muhazi United, securing their sixth consecutive Rwanda Premier League title, yet the evening was not without drama both on and off the pitch.
Cheikh Djibril Ouatarra, APR’s Burkinabe striker and Player of the Year nominee, once again proved why he is among the league’s finest. His first-half strike, coming off a well-placed cross from Denis Omedi, was all the army side needed to seal their 23rd championship in dominant fashion.
“We had a clear target coming into the game. I just stayed focused and waited for my moment. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved,” Ouatarra said after the match.
APR controlled the game early on, with Ouatarra leading the front line alongside Omedi and Gilbert Mugisha. Their cohesion upfront left Muhazi, who were without suspended captain Joseph Sackey and six other key players, on the back foot.
Despite their weakened squad, Muhazi fought with resilience. Midfielder Mohammed Kyeyune held the center with impressive command, but the home team couldn’t find the equalizer. APR’s defense stood tall, quickly transitioning from the back and nearly doubling their lead several times.
The win left APR on 64 points, four ahead of Rayon Sports, who dropped out of title contention after a frustrating goalless draw against already-relegated Vision FC.
Even a late red card to Vision’s Michael Lutaya couldn’t open the door for Rayon, as their hopes faded with the final whistle at Kigali Pele Stadium.
However, the celebrations in Ngoma were soon overshadowed by scenes of unrest. A group of fans, reportedly attempting to sneak into the stadium without tickets, hurled stones at security officers and tried scaling the fences. Social media videos captured the chaos just moments after the final whistle.
“Some young men tried to access the stadium without paying and threw stones to distract the officers. Luckily, there were no injuries and the situation was quickly contained,” said Superintendent Twizeyimana Hamduni, the Rwanda National Police spokesperson in the Eastern Province
Later that evening, a bus carrying APR supporters was also targeted with stones in Kabarondo Sector. A window was shattered, but no one was harmed.
With their championship secured, APR looks ahead to continental competition. Meanwhile, Muhazi United’s fate now hinges on their final league fixture against Amagaju FC, which will determine whether they stay in the top flight.
