The Congolese Eagles secured an important 1-0 victory over APR of Rwanda on Sunday in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round for the 2026-2027 season. ⚽🏆🔥
The Congolese side made the most of home advantage to secure a narrow victory, leaving APR with a difficult task in the second leg, which is scheduled to take place next week in Kigali.
APR now need to win by two goals in the return match to overturn the result and qualify, while the Eagles enter the second leg with a valuable advantage.
Congolese Eagles Win the First Leg
The Congolese Eagles secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg, giving themselves an important advantage ahead of the return fixture.
The home side benefited from playing in front of their supporters, while APR will now need a stronger attacking performance in the second leg to overturn the one-goal deficit.
Despite the advantage, qualification has not yet been officially decided.
APR Face a Difficult Task
APR now need to win by two goals in the second leg to overturn the first-leg result and secure qualification.
The Rwandan side will need to attack aggressively while maintaining defensive balance and avoiding spaces that the Eagles could exploit.
The Congolese side, meanwhile, will enter the return match with a one-goal advantage and can approach the game with different tactical options.
Eagles on Zamalek’s Path
The match is particularly important for Zamalek, as the winner of Zamalek’s tie against AS Port of Djibouti will face the winner of the Eagles versus APR tie in the CAF Champions League Round of 32.
Zamalek supporters are therefore following the tie closely, particularly because the Congolese Eagles are currently the team in the stronger position to reach the next round.
Zamalek Move Closer to Qualification
Zamalek previously defeated AS Port of Djibouti 2-1 in the preliminary-round first leg, putting the Egyptian side in a good position before the return fixture.
The White Knights must now complete the job and officially secure qualification to the Round of 32 before their next opponent is confirmed.
If Zamalek advance, they will meet the winner of the Eagles versus APR tie.
Potential Zamalek vs Eagles Clash
After winning the first leg, the Congolese Eagles are currently closer to qualification, opening the possibility of a meeting with Zamalek in the Round of 32.
However, the scenario is not yet confirmed because APR still have an opportunity to overturn the result in the second leg.
Zamalek have also yet to officially confirm their own qualification despite their first-leg victory.
Round of 32 Dates
The CAF Champions League Round of 32 first legs are scheduled to be played between October 16 and 18, with the return fixtures taking place between October 23 and 25.
The teams reaching this stage will face stronger opposition as they continue their pursuit of continental success.
Important Advantage for the Eagles
A 1-0 victory gives the Congolese side a useful advantage, particularly because they kept a clean sheet in the opening match.
However, the Eagles will need to remain cautious in the second leg because conceding a goal could completely change the qualification calculations.
The return match in Kigali will therefore be decisive.
Zamalek Await Their Potential Opponent
Zamalek supporters are waiting for the result of the second leg between APR and the Eagles, as one of the two teams could become the Egyptian club’s opponent in the Round of 32.
Zamalek must first complete their own tie against AS Port before beginning preparations for the next stage.
Zamalek’s Route Is Becoming Clearer
Zamalek’s route in the CAF Champions League is gradually becoming clearer after the Eagles secured their first-leg victory.
With the Congolese side now closer to qualification, the possibility of a Zamalek-Eagles clash has increased.
However, the final outcome will only be determined after both second legs are completed.
The Tie Is Not Over
Despite the Eagles’ 1-0 advantage, APR still have a strong opportunity to overturn the result at home.
The second leg will provide a major test for both sides, while Zamalek fans continue to monitor the situation as they wait to discover their potential next opponent.
✨ The Congolese Eagles beat APR of Rwanda 1-0 in the CAF Champions League preliminary-round first leg, moving closer to the Round of 32 and a potential meeting with Zamalek if the Egyptian club eliminates AS Port. ⚽🏆🔥
📢 Do you expect Zamalek to face the Congolese Eagles in the CAF Champions League Round of 32?
