Guest side Red Arrows FC are the champions of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024.

The Zambia Premier League reigning champions defeated APR FC (Rwanda) 10-9 in penalty shootouts in the final after the match had ended 1-1 in 120 minutes at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

APR FC’s goalkeeper Pavelh Ndizila rescued his side early after only 7 minutes when he stopped penalty kick by Ciel Ebengo Ngwenya. Antony Shipanuka had been brought down in the box, and the referee Ahmed Arajiga from Tanzania pointed straight to the spot.

However, the Rwanda giants grew in confidence and started dictating the flow of the game. Skipper Claude Niyomugabo almost leveled matters for APR FC, but his shot was parried out by the Red Arrows goalkeeper Charles Kalumba.

After recess the APR FC side again continued to dominate play, but the guest side against the run of play took the lead through Ricky Banda after 72 minutes dominated. The APR FC defenders failed to quickly clear a ball out of danger, and Banda made no mistake slotting it into the net.

The two teams attacked and created scoring chances on either side, but it was APR FC substitute Mamadou Sy who leveled with a well taken strike two minutes into added time. The extra 30 minutes produced no goals as the match headed to penalty kicks.

All the 10 Red Arrows players converted their penalty kicks, while APR’s nine players converted, and  Arsene Tuyisenge placed his penalty kick over the goal.

It was all celebrations by the Zambian side after emerging champions in an electrifying final. “We are Champions and God is good. We started the tournament struggling, but we are now the champions,” a happy Paul Katema, the Red Arrows captain told Cecafaonline.

Chisi Mbewe, the Red Arrows FC coach praised his players for the high levels of discipline and fighting spirit. “They fought as a team and we are happy to win the Cup,” added Mbewe.

Niyomugabo, the APR captain said it was not their day to win. “We tried to fight and managed to equalize, but failed in the penalties,” added the captain.

In an earlier third place play-off which was a battle of Sudan Premier League sides, Al Hilal beat Hay Al Wadi 3-2 in penalty shootouts after the match had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The final was graced by the CECAFA President Wallace Karia, the sponsors Tanzania Ports Authority, Azam TV, and Football Presidents from Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Zanzibar.

Besides the trophy and medals, the champions walked away with US$30,000, while the runner-up bagged silver medals and US$20,000, and the third placed US$10,000. Rwanda President Paul Kagame provides the US$60,000 cash prize.

APR FC’s Clement Niyigena has been voted the Best Player in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 which concluded on Sunday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Although the Rwanda Premier League champions APR FC lost 10-9 in penalty shootouts to Red Arrows FC (Zambia) in the final after a 1-1 draw played over 120 minutes, Niyigena was happy to scoop the Award.

“We are disappointed that we failed to win the Cup. But am glad that I won the Best player Award and this will motivate me to keep working hard,” added Niyigena.

Pavelh Nzila, APR FC’s goalkeeper who only conceded one goal in the five matches the team played was voted Best goalkeeper of the tournament, while Al Hilal (Sudan) picked the Top scorer’s gong after he netted five goals.

Tanzania Premier League side Coastal Union FC picked the Fair-Play trophy.

From the 22 matches played in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024, a record 43 goals were scored. The teams that participated include; Red Arrows FC (Zambia), APR FC (Rwanda), Al Hilal, Hay Al Wadi (Sudan), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) Dekehada FC (Somali), ASA Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti), SC Villa (Uganda), Singida Black Stars FC, Coastla Union FC (Tanzania) and Gor Mahia (Kenya), JKU SC (Zanzibar)

The curtains will come down this afternoon as the regional CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup comes to a climax at the KMC Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Twelve teams kicked off the tournament, but the final pits three time winners APR FC against a formidable guest side and reigning champions of the Zambia Premier League, Red Arrows FC.

But before the final, the third play-off match will see Sudan Premier League teams Al Hilal who have by far been the highest scoring team in the tournament with nine goals take on Hay Al Wadi.

Although Darko Novic only joined APR FC as the head coach last month, he has showed good command on the bench and good game reading which has seen them not suffer defeat in the four matches they have so far played in this tournament.

But the final is a different ball game with lots at stake. The biggest question therefore remains to see if the Rwanda army side can add the 2024 Cup to add on the previous ones lifted in 2004, 2007 and 2010. “This is a final and we must make a good start and try to look for early goals, but also defend well as a team,” says Novic.

Although APR have been strong in defending with the leadership of skipper Claude Niyomugabo, they have also showed they are not so sharp at goal scoring only three goals going into the final. To reach the final the Rwanda side stopped Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) by a similar 1-0 score, and drew 1-1 with Uganda’s SC Villa in the last group match. They went on to eject Al Hilal 5-4 on penalty shootouts after the match had ended goalless at the semi-final stage.

For Red Arrows FC who kicked of the tournament at a low pace, they will be a team to watch going into the final. Coach Chisi Mbewe kick started with a 1-0 win against Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), but suffered a big 5-0 defeat to Al Hilal in the second match. In the last do-or-die match they managed to register a 1-0 win against ASAS Djibouti Telecom. At the semi-final stage they scored two goals in the second half of extra time after the match has ended goalless in the allotted 90 minutes.

Mbewe says they are not in the final by mistake. “We came for this tournament to try and win the Cup,” said Mbewe who also adds that this tournament has helped them prepare well for the new 2024/2025 season.

Red Arrows captain Paul Katema who has scored one goal in the tournament so far believes they have what it takes to emerge winners. “We need to work together as a team to be able to win the match,” he added.

The tournament sponsored by the Sudan Football Association (SFA), Tanzania Ports Authority, Azam TV and Rwanda President Paul Kagame will see the champions bag US$30,000, and the runner-up US20,000. The third placed team will smile away with US$10,000.

Rwanda’s APR FC will face guest side Red Arrows FC in the final of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 on Sunday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Coach Darko Novic’s APR team in a tough contest stopped Al Hilal 5-4 in penalty shootouts in the first semi-final played on Friday at the KMC Stadium.

Later Zambian side Red Arrows FC needed late goals in the second half of extra times through substitute Paul Katema and Allassane Diara to stop Hay Al Wadi FC (Sudan) 2-0 in the second semi-final match played at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

While APR FC, who have won the regional Cup three times go to the final without losing a match, the Zambia Premier League reigning champions suffered a 5-0 defeat to Al Hilal in a Group match few days ago.

Novic told Cecafaonline that he is very proud of his players who have good fighting spirit from the start and qualified for the final. “We still have a lot of work to do because preparing for a final is very different especially after playing 120 minutes in the semi-final,” added Novic.

The Al Hilal coach Florent Ibenge said they were unlucky not to win because his team created some good chances. “Football is about taking your chances and penalties can go to any team. But we are happy that we have played all these matches in the CECAFA Kagame Cup because it is preparing us for the new season,” added Ibenge whose team will now face fellow Sudan side Hay Al Wadi in the play-off on Sunday before the final.

Allasane Diarra who scored Red Arrows’ second goal to scoop the Man of the match Award said they did not give up from the start to finish. “This was not an easy match, but we played our hearts out and made it to the final,” added a happy Diarra.

Tregional tournament is sponsored by the Sudan Football Association (SFA), Dar Port through the Tanzania Ports Authority, Azam TV and the Rwanda President Paul Kagame. The champions will pocket US$30,000, the runner-up US$20,000, and the third placed US$10,00