In an exciting game, Rayon Sports clinched a narrow 1-0 victory over Etincelles FC at the Kigali Pelé Stadium, a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats with its fast-paced action. The first half saw both teams displaying skillful play, yet Rayon Sports struggled to meet the expectations of their supporters, with key players like Charles Bbale underperforming as he shifted from the right to the left flank.
Rayon Sports’ midfield, led by Kanamugire Roger and Ndayishimiye Richard, faced challenges with turnovers that allowed Etincelles players, such as Robert Mukoghotya, Sumaila Moro, Ciza Hussein, and Niyonkuru Sadjat, to make inroads through the Rayon defense, which included Nsabimana Aimable and Nshimiyimana Emmanuel. However, Etincelles was unable to capitalize on these opportunities and posed limited threats to Rayon’s goal.
Etincelles came close to scoring in the 43rd minute when Ciza Hussein delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, finding forward Sumaila Moro in the box. Moro, facing the Rayon goalkeeper, narrowly missed the chance, as his shot went wide and resulted in a corner kick.
Before the end of the first half, Rayon Sports briefly celebrated what they thought was the opening goal when Muhire Kevin’s free kick, following a foul on Iraguha Hadji, was converted by Fall Ngagne. However, the assistant referee flagged for offside, and the goal was disallowed. The tightly contested first half ended goalless after two additional minutes.
In the second half, Rayon Sports made strategic changes, substituting Charles Bbale with Aziz Bassane, who took the right flank. The first 15 minutes of the half saw both teams competing intensely, with Rayon Sports increasing their pressure on Etincelles’ defense. In the 62nd minute, Fall Ngagne missed a clear chance to score after receiving a pass from Muhire Kevin, firing the ball wide from within the penalty area.
Just a minute later, Rayon Sports made another substitution, bringing on Adama Bagayogo to replace Iraguha Hadji. Bagayogo occupied the right side, pushing Bassane to the left. This tactical switch paid off in the 66th minute when Bagayogo cut in from the left, beating several Etincelles defenders and delivering a cross into the penalty area. Fall Ngagne was perfectly positioned and slotted home the first goal past Etincelles’ goalkeeper, Denis Ssenyondwa.
Fans at the Kigali Pelé Stadium continued to enjoy the thrilling action as both teams sought to dominate. In the 82nd minute, Etincelles thought they had equalized when Sumaila Moro found the back of the net following a pass from substitute Nizigiyimana Ismael. However, the goal was ruled offside, a decision Etincelles contested.
Rayon Sports had another opportunity to extend their lead in the 84th minute when Muhire Kevin once again set up Fall Ngagne, but Ngagne missed the target. Both teams continued to press until the final whistle, with the match concluding 1-0 in favor of Rayon Sports. This win propels Rayon Sports to the top of the league standings.
Looking ahead, APR FC is set to host Rutsiro FC in a rescheduled match on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., while AS Kigali will face Police FC at 6:00 p.m. in another rescheduled game.
