Rwanda's Minister of Sports, Hon. Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, presents the 2024 Peace Cup trophy to Police FC captain Dominic Savio Nshuti.
Police FC defeated Bugesera FC 2-1 in the 2024 Peace Cup final, securing their first major trophy in nine years.
Police Football Club clinched the Rwanda Peace Cup with a 2-1 win over Bugesera. The victory capped off a successful 2023–2024 season for Vincent Mashami and the team, which secured three trophies in total.
In a fiercely contested match that drew thousands of spectators from Bugesera district and police offices and command, Police FC asserted their dominance over the league strugglers, preventing them from clinching their first-ever Peace Cup title.
The game kicked off slightly later than the scheduled 3 p.m. KO time indicated on the fixture, likely due to the preceding 1st May workers’ games at Kigali Pelé Stadium. The match began at a slow pace, possibly influenced by the high temperatures at KPS.
After a scoreless first half, Police FC returned to the field with a strong determination to put an end to their nine-year wait for a major trophy. In the 57th minute, Muhadjiri Hakizimana unleashed a pinpoint pass to Jibrine Akuki, who confidently put the ball into the net, propelling the cops into the lead.
Akuki Jibrine celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Police FC against Bugesera in the 2024 Peace Cup final.
Nine minutes after taking the lead, Nsabimana Eric, also known as “Zidane,” capitalized on a well-delivered corner from Marc Nkubana to extend Police FC’s lead to two goals, significantly boosting their chances of securing the trophy.
Eric Nsabimana, originally a midfielder by formation, has transitioned to become a center back for Police FC. His goal proved instrumental in securing Police’s victory in the Peace Cup.
Francis Haringingo, a two-time Peace Cup winner and formerly the head coach of the Police, implemented significant changes to push his team forward. Vincent Adams’ entry proved essential, as he dictated the pace of the game.
Bugesera scored through Saifi Ssentengo, known as Faruk Ruhinda, as a result of this move. Despite having 9 minutes left to stage a comeback, Police FC’s strong defensive display prevented Bugesera’s efforts, ultimately allowing Police FC to finally claim the long-awaited trophy.
At the end of the 90 minutes, jubilation erupted not only among the players but also within the police command, led by CG Felix Namuhoranye, who was present at Kigali Pelé Stadium to witness his team’s greatest achievement of the season.
The 2024 Peace Cup trophy won’t be the only addition to Police FC’s trophy cabinet. The Rwanda National Police Team has previously won the EAPCCO games and the Heroes Cup this season. And there are no doubts that Vincent Mashami and the police have had a successful season.
Police FC, 2024 Peace Cup Winners
Police Football Club will represent Rwanda in the Africa Clubs Championship next year, carrying the nation’s flag with pride.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga proved her abilities by outmaneuvering four Indahangarwa defenders and scoring the second goal.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga’s exceptional four-goal display against Indahangarwa propelled Rayon Sports to secure their first-ever Peace Cup title and achieve a double in their inaugural season in Rwanda’s premier women’s football league.
KIGALI, April 30, Rayon Sports Women’s Football Club sealed a resounding 4-0 victory against Indahangarwa, claiming their first Peace Cup title. This achievement, coupled with their league title, signifies a triumphant conclusion to their debut season in Rwanda’s top-tier league.
Following her accolade as the league’s top scorer, Jeannine Mukandayisenga, also known as Kaboy, demonstrates her supremacy in the game by scoring all four goals in the match, concluding her first season with Rayon Sports as a hero in the blue jersey.
Jeannine Mukandayisenga and her teammates from Rayon Sports rejoicing in their win.
Having achieved a double with both the league title and the Peace Cup, Claude Rwaka’s Rayon Sports is not only set to compete in the CAF Women’s Champions League but also has the opportunity to vie for another title at the beginning of the next season; the Super Cup.
Rayon Sports received 11 million Rwandan Francs as incentives for winning the Peace Cup.
Rayon Sports will face Indahangarwa once more in the Super Cup
Special Olympics Rwanda, in partnership with the Rwanda School Sports Federation, has successfully concluded a three-day training program for technical directors representing various others at the national level. This initiative aims to enhance their expertise and capacity in inclusive sports within schools.
In Kigali, on April 26th, Special Olympics Rwanda (SOR) and the Rwanda School Sports Federation (RSSF) wrapped a three-day capacity-building workshop for technical directors nationwide. The training involved 21 technical directors, comprising three representatives from each league and an additional three from the national level.
From April 24th to April 26th, technical directors across the country gathered at the Centre Saint Vincent Pallotti to acquire knowledge about incorporating students with intellectual disabilities into sports alongside others without intellectual disabilities.
After the training, Mr. Eusebius Rugasire Kamugunga, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda School Sports Federation, conveyed thanks to Special Olympics Rwanda for their openness to forming a partnership with RSSF.
He said; “We express our gratitude to Special Olympics Rwanda for extending the opportunity to collaborate with us. Our previous deficiency lay in the training for individuals with intellectual disabilities. we anticipate signing a Memorandum of Understanding soon. The knowledge shared is highly valued and expected to greatly benefit our work. We eagerly look forward to a fruitful collaboration.” Mr. Rugasire Kamugunga
Eusebius Rugasire Kamugunga, on the left, and Pastor Deus Sangwa are jointly distributing certificates to participants.
In his mark to conclude a three-day event, Pastor Deus Sangwa, Board Chairman of SOR, encouraged participants to continue supporting the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in society and to uphold their role as positive ambassadors.
Pastor Deus Sangwa, Board Chairman of Special Olympics Rwanda
“Those who completed the training are now spreading their newfound knowledge across the entire country. Special Olympics is dedicated to bringing joy to athletes with intellectual disabilities and our mission is to promote their happiness and inclusion in the society. Keep being good ambassadors of this important cause.” Said the Chairman.
In the previous year, Special Olympics Rwanda, through the Unified Champion Schools project, distributed sports equipment to 210 schools across the country with 70 located in the Eastern Province, 40 in Kigali City, 25 in the Northern Province, 35 in the Western Province and 40 in the Southern Province.
The endeavor aimed to incorporate children with intellectual disabilities into sports alongside their peers without intellectual disabilities thus promoting inclusivity and alleviating feelings of isolation.
With the children equipped with full kits, the next step naturally involves capacity building.
The twenty-one trainees are tasked with the responsibility of instructing their fellow colleagues at the district level and providing guidance to coaches at the school level.
Since its inception in 2002, Special Olympics Rwanda, a non-governmental organization with an array of projects aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, has played a significant role in developing physical fitness, organizing sports activities, and facilitating competitions among athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Mr. Richard Nyirishema, FERWABA's 2nd Vice President in charge of competitions.
FERWABA initiated the Maiden Rwanda Cup, providing basketball teams from all divisions with a new opportunity to compete for a trophys.
FERWABA launched an unprecedented yearly Rwanda Cup at BK Arena on April 26, featuring teams from both Division 1 and Division 2 in men’s and women’s categories, with the objective of intensifying competitionsand nurturing the growth of bench players
The Women’s games started on April 24, and the men’s competition tipped off, Friday, April 26, featuring group stage matchups.
In the men’s category, a total of 21 teams have confirmed their participation in the inaugural Rwanda Cup. The teams are divided into three groups of four teams each and one group of five teams.
Each team will play against the other teams in their group once. The four group winners will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will be matched with the top four clubs from last season, who have been granted automatic entry to the quarterfinals.
The tournament will proceed with single-elimination games, with teams competing until the final match. Additionally, a third-place game will be contested.
In the Women’s category, 7 teams are split into two groups, one with four teams and the other with three teams. From each group, two teams will progress to the semi-finals, and a single game in the semi-finals will determine the finalists with the losing teams competing for third place.
The rules and regulations will remain unchanged from those of the league.
Speaking to Mr. Richard Nyirishema, the Vice President overseeing Competitions at FERWABA, He notes that the Rwanda Cup stands as the second most prestigious local competition in the nation. He emphasizes that the victors will earn the chance to represent Rwanda in international tournaments.
He said, “The Rwanda Cup winners won’t be taking the trophy as a symbol. We are engaging our marketing team to seek out partners and sponsors, and the discussions are progressing positively. We’re committed to organize a highly competitive tournament with appealing incentives.” Declared FERWABA 2nd Vice President in charge of competitions
He added; “The victors in the men’s division will represent the nation in the Zone V Club Champions, while the women’s category winners will have the honor of being the country’s flag bearers in the Africa Women’s Basketball League Qualifiers, alongside the League Champions.”
Mr. Nyirishema also disclosed information about a forthcoming Men’s Zone V club championship, which will be launched soon. This non-FIBA tournament aims to enhance club competition among members of Zone V.
“We, as members of Africa’s Zone Five, have resolved to launch a new Men’s Club Championship independent of FIBA affiliation. This move is aimed at boosting basketball competition among our clubs. Typically, only league champions get the chance to compete in continental events. However, with the Zone V Club Championship, our second-ranked team will also have the opportunity to vie at the international level.”
Since the inception of the Basketball Africa League in 2020, the men’s zonal competition has been supplanted by the Road To BAL, which consists of qualifying rounds. These rounds determine the final 12 teams from across the continent that compete in the BAL regular season.
According to Mr. Nyirishema, FERWABA has decided that the Rwanda Cup winners will represent the country in the Zone V club championship, rather than the second-ranked team in the league.
FERWABA’s 2023 General Assembly resolution included the creation of the Rwanda Cup. And the newly launched inaugural Rwanda Cup will culminate on August 9, 2024, with the finals and award ceremonies.
Rwanda has been drawn into Group D of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments, along with Great Britain, Argentina, and Lebanon.
MIES-SWITZERLAND, on April 25, at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, the draw for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments was conducted by Hon. Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, the Minister of Sports for Rwanda.
Prior to the draw, Hon. Munyangaju pointed out that by hosting this event, Rwanda extends a welcoming embrace to the world, showcasing their hospitality and fervor for basketball. Moreover, it underscores Africa’s ascending stature in the global basketball realm.
Hon. Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju,the Minister of Sports in the Government of Rwanda.
“For Rwanda, this presents an opportunity to showcase our hospitality, culture, and passion for the game to the world. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate that Africa is not just a participant but an emerging leader in the world of international basketball.” Said The Minister of Sports in Rwanda
She Added; “Beyond achievement and excitement, hosting this event holds profound significance for the development of women’s basketball across Africa.”
At the event moderated by Anna Barthold, FIBA’s Women’s Competitions Manager, the draw unfolded in the presence of esteemed figures including FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, and members of the FIBA Central Board. And it marks a significant step in implementing FIBA’s resolutions to expand the number of countries participating in the Women’s World Cup and its qualifying tournaments.
Following a completion of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup with 12 participating countries, the FIBA Central Board sanctioned an expansion of the women’s competition system to enable a broader array of international tournaments.
In response to this development, the global basketball governing body introduced the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments to provide teams that did not qualify for the Olympics with the opportunity to participate in intercontinental competitions.
Senegal, the runners-up of the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Kigali, did not qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. as a results, they are among the four African countries picked to participate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournaments.
Apart from Nigeria, which secured a berth in the 2024 Olympics, Senegal, knocked out during the Olympic qualifiers in Antwerp, Mali, Rwanda, and Mozambique, who finished third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the 2023 AfroBasket in Kigali, are now set to compete in these thrilling tournaments, expected to entice teams from the second echelon of women’s basketball globally.
Following an unprecedented fourth-place finish on the continental stage and seizing the opportunity to compete in the 2026 World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments, Rwanda, renowned as a destination for MICE, submitted a bid and successfully secured the rights to host the global event.
Alongside Mexico, Rwanda will host the 2026 World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament separately. The Group C and D matches will take place at Kigali’s BK Arena from August 19 to 25, 2024.
Group D consists of the host Rwanda, alongside Great Britain, Argentina, and Lebanon. Group C comprises Brazil, Hungary, Senegal, and the Philippines.
Mexico City, which will host groups A and B, will feature thrilling matches from Korea, Czechia, Mali, and Venezuela in Group A, and Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, and Mozambique in Group B.
Complete Draw Results for FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments
The winners of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments, hosted by both Mexico and Kigali, will earn berths in the qualifying tournaments. They will then await the other 22 teams from the FIBA Women’s Continental Cups 2025 to complete the list of 24 teams.
Among the 24 teams participating in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament, Africa will be represented by 4 teams, including Côte d’Ivoire, the host country for the 2025 AfroBasket.
Scheduled for March 2026, the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament’s host country is yet to be determined. And from these 24 teams, 16 will secure berths for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will feature 16 teams once again after 8 years and will mark the 20th edition of the tournament. It will be held in Berlin, Germany, from September 4 to 13, 2026.
Mary Gibi Chavinda's brace secures victory for Rayon Sports WFC over AS Kigali WFC, propelling them to the final.
Rayon Sports WFC secures a berth in Rwanda Peace Cup final by overcoming AS Kigali, boosting their prospects of achieving a double in their Maiden season in Rwanda’s top-tier league.
Rayon Sports Women’s Football Club defeated AS Kigali Women’s Football Club 2-0 in the second leg of the Rwanda Peace Cup semi-final, advancing to the final with a 2-1 aggregate score. This accomplishment denotes their second consecutive appearance in the Peace Cup final since the club’s inception in 2022.
After experiencing a 1-0 loss in the first leg at Kigali Pelé stadium, Claude Rwaka’s team was determined to overturn the score this afternoon, April 24, at their home turf, Skol Stadium. The objective was simply to overcome the incumbent Peace Cup champions and advance to the final.
The match began with a fast-paced tempo, with the home team capitalizing on their home advantage. Within 15 minutes, Mary Gibi Chavinda scored to level the aggregate score, courtesy of a well-executed pass from former AS Kigali midfielder, Alodie Kayitesi. This solitary goal separated the two teams at halftime.
Just a minute into the second half, Mary Gibi Chavinda netted again, doubling the score and giving the blues a promising chance to advance to the final game.
This time, the assist came from today’s captain, Dorothée Mukeshimana.
AS Kigali sought a goal to secure the away goal advantage, but unfortunately, Zawadi Usanase had an off day, missing several opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Consequently, Rayon Sports progressed to the final with a 2-1 aggregate score.
Rayon Sports, a newly promoted club in the Rwanda Women’s Football League, is poised to make their second appearance in the Peace Cup final, having lost to today’s opponent in the previous edition. If they secure the trophy this time, this season will be immortalized as a golden one, marking a double in their debut top-tier league season.
It’s worth noting that Rayon Sports were crowned champions of the 2023/2024 league season and will represent the country in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Nicknamed Gikundiro, Rayon Sports WFC will face off against Indahangarwa in the Peace Cup final. Indahangarwa secured their spot by eliminating Faima WFC with a 2-1 aggregate score as well.
Bugesera FC defeats Rayon Sports, resulting in their elimination from the 2024 Peace Cup. | Photo: IGIHE
Bugesera FC defies the odds by stunning the reigning champions, Rayon Sports, in the semi-final, setting the stage for a historic final against Police FC. Police FC secured their spot in the final by overcoming Gasogi United in a thrilling penalty shootout.
NYAMATA, April 24, a historic chapter was penned as Bugesera Football Club reached a remarkable milestone, qualifying for the final of the Rwanda Peace Cup
After a lackluster 45-minute first half, Francis Haringingo’s Bugesera team emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of determination to beat Rayon Sports and ultimately eliminate them from the 2024 Rwanda Peace Cup
Their attention was solely directed towards avenging their recent defeat to Rayon Sports. This defeat had occurred just the previous Saturday in a match labeled as crucial, a must-win encounter for Bugesera, who are currently battling relegation.
Today presented a completely different scenario. Five minutes into the second half, Bugesera’s left back, Stephen Bonney, secured the advantage with a long-range shot, leaving the Blues in a position where they would need to score twice to advance.
Rayon Sports made every effort and implemented various changes, but they were unable to produce any clear chances in front of Patience Niyongira’s goal. hence, they were ousted with a 2-0 aggregate score, suffering humiliation in front of Bugesera, who defeated them in both legs of the 2024 Peace Cup semi-final.
After securing a well-deserved victory, Bugesera advanced to the final match, where they would face Police FC. Police FC earned their spot in the final by eliminating Gasogi United in a penalty shootout.
Following a close defeat in the initial leg against Gasogi, Vincent Mashami’s Police FC bounced back with a 1-0 victory in the second leg, setting up a penalty shootout. The decisive goal was scored by Didier Mugisha.
Didier Mugisha of Police FC celebrates after scoring a goal against Gasogi United
Police FC, a two-time Peace Cup winner, will be up against Bugesera, who are making their first appearance in the final match.
The winner of the Rwanda Peace Cup earns the opportunity to represent the country in a continental club championship. Can Bugesera, currently engaged in a relegation battle, emerge triumphant and become the country’s flag bearer while competing in the second tier league championship?
REG BBC, last edition's winners of the Genocide Memorial Tournament, are gearing up to face off against APR BBC this Friday in a tournament dedicated to commemorating the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. [Photo: IGIHE]
The top four clubs from the Rwanda Basketball League first leg, in both the men’s and women’s categories, are set to compete in this year’s Genocide Memorial Tournament, scheduled for April 19th-20th at the BK Arena.
To mark the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against Tutsis in 1994, the Rwanda Basketball community is coming together with fellow Rwandans this year to mourn the loss of over a million Tutsis who were tragically murdered in just a hundred days.
As part of the scheduled activities, the leading clubs from the Rwandan Basketball League first leg in both the Men’s and Women’s categories will gather for a two-day tournament “Genocide Memorial Tournament 30,”. This event is slated to take place on April 19th-20th, at the BK Arena
Mr. Alexis Sharangabo, President of GMT 2024, a commission under RNOSC, expressed in a press conference to announce preparations, his belief in the power of sports to unite communities and honor the memories of those lost during the genocide. He further emphasized that federations have a responsibility to adhere to Rwandan societal norms by mourning for the victims during the commemorative period.
“This year marks the 11th edition of the Genocide Memorial Tournament organized by the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC). Previously, memorial tournaments were held by federations but in a less organized manner.”
He added “These games serve as a tribute to the players, families, coaches, and the entire sports community lost during the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.
“Acknowledging the different schedules of federations, we have requested that if they do not organize GMTs, they should at least arrange regular commemorative activities that reflect the Rwandan spirit during this 100-day period.” He Said
The National Olympic Committee, responsible for coordinating the Genocide Memorial Tournaments (GMT) in various sports, designates the period from April 14 to June 30 for the event. However, due to scheduling constraints in basketball, the tournament has been slated for April 19th-20th.
Mrs. Claudette Habimana Umugwaneza and Mr. Alexis Sharangabo
According to Mrs. Claudette Habimana Umugwaneza, Technical Advisor of FERWABA, opting for a limited number of teams was deemed the optimal method to ensure timely games and to respect the engagements of other clubs and national teams this year.
“We opted to limit the number of clubs participating in the tournament due to the short period of time for preparation and the venue’s availability. The management of BK Arena allotted us just two days, this weekend. And This primarily influenced our decision to pick four men’s teams and four women’s teams based on our current league standings.” Said the technical Advisor
The current league leaders, Patriots, have been invited to participate in the tournament, along with the second-ranked team and defending champions, APR BBC. REG BBC and Tigers fill the remaining two slots for the semi-final format games, culminating in a final match scheduled for Saturday.
In the women’s category, APR WBBC, REG WBBC, Kepler, and GS Marie Reine will also compete for the 2024 Genocide Memorial Tournament trophy.
The basketball fraternity has been commemorating for decades
In 1996, the Espoir BBC team initiated a tournament to honor its player and coach, Ntarugera Emmanuel “Gisembe”, known as the “Gisembe Memorial tournament,” in remembrance of his life lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.
By 2013, the tournament underwent a name change to the “Basketball Genocide Memorial Tournament.”
From 2015, in collaboration with the “Rwanda Basketball Association” and Espoir BBC, the GMT tournament adopted a dual structure, featuring both local and international events.
In 2019, the GMT competition transitioned into an international event exclusively
In the 2019, REG BBC claimed victory over Patriots in the final match, securing the title. Meanwhile, The Hoops Rwanda emerged victorious in the women’s category, defeating RP-IPRC Huye to clinch the championship.
The tournament hasn’t taken place since then due to the COVID-19 and its consequences
The 2024 edition introduces a notable change, as Espoir Basketball will not be taking part in the tournament for the first time.
Speaking to Mrs. Fiona Ishimwe, Executive Director of the Rwanda governing body for Basketball, it was clarified that Espoir was not excluded from the tournament, and she emphasized that Espoir fully understand the concept behind the Genocide Memorial Tournaments
Mrs. Fiona Ishimwe, The Executive director at FERWABA
“Espoir has tragically lost many members, and we have made efforts to communicate with them, informing them of the challenges we faced in organizing this tournament.”
“In our partnership with BK Arena, we were constrained to only two days for organizing the event. Consequently, we opted for a simplified format, and since we have now completed the first leg games, we made the decision to involve the current top four clubs in this format.” Declared Mrs. Ishimwe
She added “The Genocide Memorial Tournament serves as a tribute to all the sportsmen who lost their lives in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. Throughout these games, we will share testimonies and messages of remembrance. Espoir is fully aware of this, and they understand its significance.”
Despite missing out in this year’s GMT edition, the Espoir Basketball Club holds a significant numbers in the 34 identified members of the basketball fraternity who lost their lives in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.
The identified basketball fraternity members who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi:
Janvier Benedata (on the right) silencing APR fans and postponing their celebrations to another day.
Janvier Benedata, a former midfielder for APR FC, helped the citizens secure a 2-2 draw, thwarting APR from celebrating their fifth consecutive Rwanda Premier League title and their 22nd overall.
On April 15th, at Kigali Pelé Stadium, APR Football Club was eager to defeat AS Kigali and secure the Rwanda Premier League title four matches before the end of the season.
Their celebration at AS Kigali’s home venue was once again denied, this time by former APR players Fiston Ishimwe and Janvier Benedata, thwarting APR’s victory. Benedata scored a crucial goal in the dying minutes, forcing APR to postpone their celebration to another day.
The game began with a minute of silence to mourn the passing of APR’s fitness coach, Dr. Adel Zrane, who passed away earlier this month. Additionally, the moment of silence was observed to commemorate the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
This tribute occurred as Rwanda is in the midst of 100 days of commemoration activities.
Fiston Ishimwe scored to break the deadlock 12 minutes after kickoff, giving AS Kigali the lead. However, their advantage was short-lived as APR equalized just 2 minutes later, courtesy of Alain Bacca Kwitonda.
Fiston Ishimwe didn’t hold back in celebrating his goal against his former club, APR.
For the next 30 minutes of the first half, it was essentially AS Kigali versus Pavelh Ndzila. The Congolese international goalkeeper made numerous saves against Erisa Ssekisambu, Shaban Hussein, and Aimée Ntirushwa, effectively keeping the army side in the game. Thus, both teams went into break with the score level.
Seventeen minutes into the second half, Victor Mbaoma scored his 14th league goal, granting the defending champions the lead and igniting hopes among the fans. This goal positioned them to potentially celebrate their 22nd record league title at the conclusion of the game.
The army side maintained hope of celebration until the 90th minute, when a substitute and former APR midfielder dashed their hopes with a spectacular left-footed curved shot from outside the box. Benedata’s goal spoiled the festivities, as a win for APR would secure a 14-point lead over the second-ranked team, Rayon Sports, with four games remaining.
APR will have to wait until Saturday when they face Kiyovu. Securing just a single point in that match will be sufficient to clinch the title, regardless of the outcome of Rayon Sports’ matches.
APR FC, currently undefeated in the 2023/2024 Rwanda Premier League, boast a record 21 league titles and are aiming for their fifth consecutive title.
Olivier Turatsinze scored a remarkable 36 points, leading Espoir to defeat REG BBC with a score of 88-71, marking his season-best performance.
Olivier Turatsinze’s stellar 36-point performance leads Espoir BBC to an 88-71 victory against REG BBC in the Rwanda Basketball League, bringing the first leg matches to a successful end.
KIGALI, April 6, Espoir Basketball Club pulls off a stunning upset against REG BBC in their last game of the first leg of the Rwanda Basketball League. This victory not only advances their position in the standings but also enhances their prospects of securing a playoff berth by the season’s end.
Olivier Turatsinze, last season’s regular season MVP, saved his season-high performance of 36 points for the final game of the first leg, to shock one of the league’s powerhouse.
Espoir’s point guard made 9 of 19 field goals and an amazing 15 of 17 free throws, tallying a game-high 36 points and dealing Charles Mushumba’s REG their third season loss.
Turatsinze’s Espoir began the game trailing by two points (19-21) in the first quarter and continued to lag behind at halftime (37-39), but orchestrated a turnaround performance in third quarter to seize a commanding lead.
Espoir dominated REG in the third quarter, outscoring them 35-14, which helped them secure a comfortable lead. This advantage carried them through the last period, resulting in a deserved victory. 88-71.
In addition to Turatsinze’s impressive 36-point performance, Ronald Nato Kolmia contributed 23 points, and Eric Muhayumukiza added 13 points to secure the victory.
Ronald Nato Kolmia’s impact since joining Espoir has been unquestionable.
Fortunate Mwanabene had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Meanwhile, on the opposing team, Kambuy Manga Pitchou also recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
The triumph elevates Espoir to fifth place with 14 points (5-4), on par with the fourth-ranked Tigers. However, Tigers hold precedence due to a head-to-head results.
REG maintain their third-place standing with 15 points.
In Rwanda, basketball and all sports activities have come to a standstill to mark the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Following a 7-day commemoration period, the inaugural Rwanda Cup will commence, and the league’s second leg games are scheduled to begin in May.
