The army side moved closer to securing a seventh consecutive league crown after edging AS Kigali 2-1 on Sunday.
APR FC now sit eight points clear of Rayon Sports and require just one point from their remaining three fixtures against Rutsiro FC, Al-Merrikh SC, and Gicumbi FC to mathematically secure the title.
Following the victory over AS Kigali, head coach Taleb Abderrahim urged supporters to turn out in large numbers for Sunday’s clash against Rutsiro FC, where a draw or victory would officially confirm the championship.
“This was a match we had to win to move closer to the title. There are now three games left and we only need one point, God willing, next week,” he said.
“I invite our fans to come and support us. If we win or draw, we will celebrate the title together.”
Title success could deliver nearly Rwf250 million
Questions remain over how the league trophy will be awarded this season after the Rwanda Premier League admitted Sudanese guest clubs, with Al-Hilal SC currently on course to finish top of the overall standings.
However, the situation is not expected to affect prize allocations for Rwandan clubs. In October, Rwanda Premier League officials stated that two trophies would be awarded if the overall leader was not a domestic side, although discussions are ongoing over the possibility of presenting only one trophy.
Should APR FC secure the point they need, they would become the first Rwandan club to receive Rwf80 million for winning the league title after the new FERWAFA administration led by Shema Fabrice increased prize money this season.
Previously, the men’s league champions earned Rwf25 million, with no prize money distributed beyond the winner. This season, however, the top eight clubs will share a combined prize pool of Rwf280 million.
APR FC are also set to qualify for the CAF Champions League, where clubs participating in the preliminary round have been guaranteed $100,000 (about Rwf146.2 million) since the 2024/25 campaign.
The club is further expected to receive Rwf10 million from StarTimes, the broadcaster of the Rwanda Premier League, and another Rwf10 million from Bank of Kigali distributed to all participating clubs.
According to information obtained by IGIHE, teams could start earning up to Rwf30 million annually beginning next season under a new five-and-a-half-year sponsorship agreement recently signed between Bank of Kigali and Rwanda Premier League, which will see the competition rebranded as the “BK Pro League.”
League organisers are also reviewing a new revenue-sharing structure that would provide clubs with equal baseline funding while allocating additional financial rewards based on performance in a bid to increase competitiveness across the league.
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