APR FC, the reigning champion of Rwanda’s Premier League, the Peace Cup, and the Heroes Cup for the 2024/25 season, is continuing to show its ambition in the transfer market as it prepares for next season’s CAF Champions League.
This club, which has won the Rwandan League 23 times, aims to go far in Africa’s most prestigious club competition. Its main goal is to at least reach the group stage—a feat it has never achieved in its history, much to the frustration of its fans, especially as arch-rival Rayon Sports often boasts of having reached the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals.
In pursuit of this objective, APR FC is strengthening its squad ahead of the 2025/26 season. Leading this new era is newly appointed Moroccan coach Taleb Abderrahim, who has been brought in to guide the club to success on the continental stage.
Among the key new signings is Omborenga Fitina, a 29-year-old right-back who has returned to APR after a short stint at Rayon Sports. His return is expected to boost the club’s defense.
Historically, Omborenga isn’t the only player to switch from Rayon Sports to APR FC—others include Bokota Labama, Haruna Niyonzima, Olivier Niyonzima, and Ange Mutsinzi, among others.
Besides Omborenga, APR FC has signed several other players,Hadji Iraguha and Hakim Bugingo from Rayon Sports,Adolphe Hakizimana, a goalkeeper from AS Kigali,Nduwayo Alex from Gasogi United, Pacifique Ngabonziza, a midfielder from Police FC, Raouf Memel Dao, a 21-year-old from Burkina Faso who played for Sonabel, Ronald Ssekiganda from Uganda
Dao stood out in the 2024/25 Burkina Faso league season, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists in 29 matches. He was even voted Player of the Year. He had been linked with Tanzania’s Singida Big Stars before APR secured his signature. This move signals APR FC’s serious intent to bolster its quality with both local and international talent.
Now, fans are eagerly asking whether their beloved club will finally fulfill its dream of reaching the CAF Champions League group stage. Each season, APR FC sets similar goals: win the national league, lift the Peace Cup, and break into the group stage of African competitions.
This ambition is also fueled by the desire to silence Rayon Sports’ constant bragging about their own African exploits. To date, Rayon Sports remains the only Rwandan team to reach the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals.
New coach Taleb Abderrahim, 61, is expected to help APR FC write new history in African football. In 2017, he led Difaa El Jadida to a second-place finish in the Moroccan league. However, there are questions about his ability to stay long-term, as his coaching record shows frequent changes, and APR has already sacked two coaches in the past two years—despite their domestic success.
APR fans hope that Omborenga will bring leadership and experience, Dao and the other new players will add strength and uniqueness, and together they will form a team capable of beating any opponent.
Right now, what APR fans want most is not another domestic trophy—but to see their team go far in African competitions.
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