Aigles du Congo begin their 2026-27 CAF Champions League campaign against Rwanda’s APR FC on Sunday, with the Kinshasa club aiming to build a first-leg advantage despite having to play behind closed doors.
The opening match of the first preliminary round will be staged at Lubumbashi’s Stade Frederic-Kibassa-Maliba, with the Congolese side seeking a stronger start to their latest African campaign. The game was originally scheduled to take place in Kinshasa but was moved to Lubumbashi after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) retained the venue and rejected APR FC’s request for the tie to be played at a neutral ground.
The fixture will nevertheless take place without supporters because of security concerns. Aigles du Congo have challenged the decision and called for the restriction to be lifted, arguing that the presence of their fans would provide important support for the team.
Despite the unusual circumstances, Aigles du Congo remain focused on securing a positive result before the return match in Rwanda. Forward Glody Kikwama outlined the team’s immediate priorities on the eve of the game.
“Our objective is first to win this first leg, then look at the second leg and move on to the next stage.”
The match represents another opportunity for Aigles du Congo to make progress on the continental stage. Their first CAF Champions League campaign came in 2025, when they were eliminated in the first round by Nigeria’s Rivers United.
The club now hopes to use that experience to avoid another early exit and make a convincing start to the 2026-27 competition. A successful first leg in Lubumbashi would give them a platform to take into the return fixture and strengthen their hopes of reaching the next stage.
APR FC will provide a significant test. The Rwandan club come into the tie after a highly successful 2025-26 domestic season in which they won the national treble: the league title, the Peace Cup and the Rwanda Super Cup.
That record underlines the scale of the challenge for Aigles du Congo, who will need to combine defensive discipline with greater efficiency in front of goal. With no home crowd allowed inside Stade Frederic-Kibassa-Maliba, the Congolese side will have to create its own momentum on the pitch.
For the first meeting, their priority is clear: claim victory in Lubumbashi and carry the best possible advantage into the second leg in Rwanda.