Rayon Sports has left for Benghazi, Libya, ahead of the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round against Al-Hilal Benghazi on September 15.
Youssef Rharb, who was named to the 22-man traveling squad on September 11, was forced to withdraw at the last minute owing to an injury.
The 22-year-old left winger was replaced almost immediately by François Mugisha, who had been left out of the traveling team. The Moroccan is likely to be out of commission for two weeks.
At roughly 4:25 p.m., the Blues and Whites took off from Kigali International Airport for Benghazi. They went to Addis Abeba, then to Cairo, and finally to Benghazi, where they are expected to arrive on Wednesday evening.
Aruna Madjaliwa and Emmanuel Mvuyekure, who are on foreign service with the Burundi national team, who face Cameroon in their last AFCON Qualifier on September 12, did not leave Kigali with the squad but will join them in Benghazi.
The Rwandan team will visit Al-Hilal on Friday at 8 p.m. Kigali time at the 10,550-seat Martyrs of Benina Stadium. The second leg will be held at Kigali Pele Stadium 15 days later.
The Benghazi-based club advanced to the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Kenya’s Kakamega Homeboyz 4-1 on aggregate, courtesy to a crucial 4-1 second leg victory following a goalless first leg.
Rayon Sports, who will represent Rwanda in the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the 2023 Peace Cup, were excused from the first preliminary round owing to their outstanding performance in the competition’s group stages in 2018.
Reflecting on their preparations for the next match, Rayon Sports president Jean Fidele Uwayezu stated that their objective is to win and knock out the Libyan team, and that they will go to any length to do so.
