BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
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.
