Mamadou Sy nets dramatic late winner as APR defeat AS Kigali

Mamadou Sy came off the bench and scored a stoppage-time dramatic winner from close range to fire APR to a 2-1 victory over AS Kigali on Sunday night.

The Mauritanian striker marked his third league goal of the season, following a string of dreadful performances that even cost him a starting spot. His most recent goal had come on 7 November 2024, when he netted twice from the spot against Vision.

The supporters at Kigali Pele Stadium were on the edge of their seats throughout the first half, with both teams playing out a nail-biting 0-0 stalemate.

Djibril Ouattara opened the scoring in the 66th minute, with a magnificent head finish from Jean Gilbert Byiringiro's cross as the Burkinabe striker registered his first goal for the league holder.

Osée Iyabivuze stepped off the bench and equalised for AS Kigali in the 78th minute, slamming a right-footed strike that deflected off Byiringiro after Marc Nkubana's long-range pass.

Darko Novic had to wait until the fourth added minute to the regular time to claim a winner, and it was a substitute, Mamadou Sy, who broke the deadlock with a tap-in from Jean Bosco Ruboneka's pass.

"My players showed character and we had a good and positive result," Darko Novic told the media after the game.

"I hope we will keep this distance between us and Rayon Sports of three points until the end, when we will face them and decide who will be the champions."

APR stayed in second place with 37 points from 17 matches in the Rwanda Premier League table and cut Rayon's lead to three points as they registered their 11th win.

Meanwhile, Shabani Mbarushimana's side dropped to fourth place with 29 points from 17 games.

Photo: APR have registered 11 victories from 17 league games this season, with a 2-1 win tonight.

Photo: Both skippers, Haruna Niyonzima of AS Kigali and APR's Claude Niyomugabo, battle it out.

Photo: AS Kigali midfielder Aime Ntirushwa in action during their 2-1 defeat to APR.

Photo: APR's Jean Bosco Ruboneka tussles it out against Ilias Rucogoza of AS Kigali.

Photo: APR midfielder Yussif Dauda in action at Kigali Pele Stadium.