APR FC to face Red Arrows in CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 final

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