CAF rejects APR FC’s request to relocate Les Aigles du Congo Champions League tie

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected APR FC’s request to move their CAF Champions League first-round preliminary tie against Les Aigles du Congo away from the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving the Rwandan champions facing a trip to Lubumbashi.

APR FC had asked for the fixture to be relocated to a neutral country, citing concerns over the Ebola outbreak and the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The first leg, initially scheduled to be played in Kinshasa, has now been confirmed for Sunday, September 6, at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium in Lubumbashi.

The match will kick off at 3pm local time (2pm GMT), with the return leg to be played in Kigali.

The decision comes after APR FC raised concerns about travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo at a time when the country is dealing with a serious Ebola outbreak.

The World Health Organization said on August 28 that the outbreak had spread to 60 health zones across six provinces, with 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths recorded by August 26.

APR FC coach Abderrahim Taleb previously said the club did not want to expose its players and staff to unnecessary health risks, while also pointing to security concerns linked to the conflict in parts of the country.

The club subsequently approached CAF seeking permission to play the match outside the DRC.

However, CAF has maintained the fixture in the DRC.

The change from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi was prompted by the lack of a CAF-approved stadium in the capital, with Frédéric Kibassa Maliba among the venues available to host CAF matches in the country.

The tie will be an important test for both clubs.

Les Aigles du Congo, runners-up in the Congolese league, are making their second appearance in the CAF Champions League and will be seeking to use home advantage to build an advantage before travelling to Kigali.

APR FC, meanwhile, will be aiming to reach the next stage of the competition and avoid allowing the off-field controversy to distract from their preparations.

The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the second preliminary round, where they will face the winner between Djibouti’s AS Port and Egyptian giants Zamalek.

CAF’s preliminary rounds are scheduled to take place in September, with the first legs between September 4 and 6 and the return fixtures between September 11 and 13.

APR FC must now decide how to proceed following CAF’s ruling, with the club facing the prospect of travelling to Lubumbashi despite its concerns over health and security.

The information indicates that if APR FC fails to play the match, the club will face sanctions, including a $5,000 fine, a two-year ban from African competitions and a 3-0 forfeiture.