Coming into the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Club Championship final against Zambian side Red Arrows, Uganda Cranes midfielder Taddeo Lwanga’s APR FC were looking for a fourth title.
Although the favorites tag was hanging around their necks, the Rwanda Premier League champions fell to the guests.
Both teams shared spoils in a 1–1 stalemate after extra time before Red Arrows won the resulting penalty shootout 10-9 at KMC Stadium in Tanzania on Sunday.
Ricky Banda opened the scoring for Arrows in the 63rd minute and as the Zambians almost won it in normal time, Mamadou netted a stoppage time equalizer to force extra time.
Each player converted his penalty until the 10th spot kick when APR’s Arsene Tuyisenge missed before Ebengo Ikoko netted his for Red Arrows to clinch the championship.
It is important to note that Lwanga was an unused substitute for the second straight game after he also missed the semifinal against Al Hilal.
The CECAFA Inter-Club Championship now has a new winner since 2021 when seven-time Uganda Premier League champions Express won it.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal defeated their fellow countrymen Al Wadi in the third-place playoff final 3-2 in the post match penalties after a 1–1 draw in normal time earlier on.
