APR FC has appealed a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requiring the club to play its CAF Champions League fixture against Les Aigles du Congo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
APR FC was recently informed that its first leg match in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League would be played in the DRC after CAF rejected its request to have the fixture moved to a venue outside the country.
The match is scheduled to take place between September 4 and 6, 2026.
Safety Concerns and Rejection of Initial Request
Among the reasons cited by the Rwandan Defence Force club was the Ebola outbreak affecting the DRC.
APR FC management told IGIHE that on Sunday, it submitted its appeal to CAF through the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
The appeal comes amid concerns raised by APR FC over the safety of its players and officials travelling to the DRC for the match.
APR FC had requested that the fixture be moved to another safe venue. However, CAF, citing its competition regulations, informed the club that it had found no sufficient grounds to relocate the match.
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Venue Conflicts and Alternative Options
Currently, the DRC has only two stadiums approved by CAF: TP Mazembe Stadium and Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium, both located in Lubumbashi.
Reports indicate that Les Aigles du Congo is also opposed to playing in Lubumbashi because of the rivalry between the club and TP Mazembe, which recently won the national league title.
Tanzania is among the countries reportedly being considered as a potential alternative venue should the match be relocated. Les Aigles du Congo previously held a training camp there before travelling to Angola.
Tournament Progression
The winner of the preliminary-round tie between APR FC and Les Aigles du Congo will face the winner of the tie between Djibouti’s AS Port and Egypt’s Zamalek SC in the next round.
