Jump to content

2024–25 Rwanda Premier League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rwanda Premier League
Season2024–25
Dates15 August 2024 – 28 May 2025
ChampionsAPR FC
RelegatedMuhazi United, Vision FC
Highest attendance45,000
Rayon Sports 0–0 APR FC
(7 December 2024)[1]<[2]

The 2024–25 Rwanda Premier League is the 48nd season of the Rwanda Premier League, the top-tier football league in Rwanda. The season started on 15 August 2024 and concluded on 28 May 2025. APR FC were crowned the champions, winning their sixth title in a row, with Rayon Sports in second place. Muhazi United and Vision FC were the two clubs relegated from the Premier League.[3]

Season summary

[edit]

The early part of the season, up to the end of 2024, was dominated by Rayon Sports, who were chasing their first title since the 2018–19 campaign. After ten games, the club led the table by six points ahead of AS Kigali, with Senegalese striker Ngagne Fall leading the goal-scoring with six. APR FC, winners of the previous five titles, were in fifth place at the beginning of December, but had played several games fewer than their rivals.[4]

The league took a mid-season break in January, Rayon Sports having a five-point lead at the time after both they and second-placed APR lost their final games before the intermission, both at the Huye Stadium to Mukura Victory Sports and Amagaju respectively.[5] The top two were considerably ahead of the rest of the teams in the division, third-placed AS Kigali being six points behind APR at the time of the break.[6]

The season resumed in February, with APR reducing Rayon's lead to two points by the time the two sides met for their second match of the season on 9 March at Amahoro Stadium. This match finished 0–0 with neither side having many clear-cut chances.[7]

In April, Rayon Sports sacked their coach Robertinho after a 2–2 draw with Marine FC. The club had recorded only three matches out of ten prior to that point, and lost the top spot in the table to APR.[8] This was the first time Rayon had not led the table since the start of the 2025 calendar year. Claude Rwaka, the title-winning Ryon women's coach, took over to replace Robertinho.[9]

On 17 May, a match between Bugesera and Rayon Sports had to be postponed after 57 minutes when Rayon supporters began protesting and throwing projectiles on to the field. Bugesera were leading 2–0 at the time, with Umar Abba having just scored their second goal through a controversial penalty, shortly after Rayon had been denied a penalty of their own to potentially level the match. APR won their game on the same day, a 1–0 win over Gorilla FC – the lone goal also coming through a disputed penalty – and moved two points clear at the top of the table.[10] The Bugesera–Rayon match was resumed four days later, from the point where it had been abandoned, and despite scoring in the 84th minute, they still lost the game 2–1.[11]

Vision FC became the first club to be relegated on 13 May after one season in the top flight, following a 2–1 defeat to Marines FC.[12] APR FC then sealed the Premier League title on 24 May when they beat Muhazi United 1–0, while Rayon Sports were held to a goalless draw by Vision FC. This win gave APR a four-point lead over Rayon with only one game left to play.[13] The battle to avoid the second relegation place went to the final day, as Amagaju faced Muhazi United, holding a three point advantage over their rivals. Amagaju won the match 2–1, consigning Muhazi to a drop to the second tier.[14]

Aftermath

[edit]

APR's title was their 23rd overall in the Rwandan Premier League – extending their record – and also their 6th consecutive title in a run beginning in 2020.[13] They also completed a League and Cup double, having also won the 2024–25 Rwandan Cup.[15]

An awards ceremony was held at the Kigali Convention Centre on 30 May 2025, to honour the most significant contributors to the 2024–25 season. Clement Niyigena of APR won the award for best player, with APR's Djibirl Ouattara and Bugesera's Umar Abba also in contention for the award. Niyigena had also won the player of the tournament for the 2024 Kagame Interclub Cup at the beginning of the season.[16]

League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 APR (C) 30 20 7 3 46 17 +29 67 Qualification for Champions League
2 Rayon Sports 30 18 9 3 42 17 +25 63 Qualification for Confederation Cup
3 Kigali 30 14 7 9 32 27 +5 49
4 Police 30 11 12 7 38 24 +14 45
5 Mukura Victory Sports 30 10 11 9 23 27 −4 41
6 Bugesera 30 10 10 10 37 29 +8 40
7 Gorilla 30 11 7 12 27 25 +2 40
8 Gasogi United 30 10 10 10 29 29 0 40
9 Rutsiro 30 9 11 10 30 35 −5 38
10 Kiyovu Sports 30 11 4 15 32 51 −19 37
11 Amagaju 30 10 6 14 29 38 −9 36
12 Etincelles 30 7 13 10 25 27 −2 34
13 Musanze 30 7 13 10 26 31 −5 34
14 Marines 30 9 7 14 37 46 −9 34
15 Muhazi United (R) 30 7 9 14 22 29 −7 30 Relegation
16 Vision FC (R) 30 5 6 19 23 46 −23 21
Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Abayisenga, Eddy (7 December 2024). "Rayon Sports 0-0 APR: Rwandan derby ends in goalless stalemate". bbkigalifm.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  2. ^ Kayinamura, Alexis (6 December 2024). "Rayon vs APR: Amahoro Stadium sold out day before derby kick-off". The New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Rwanda 2024/25". rsssf.org. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Rwanda: Rayon Sport maintains the pace; APR gain ground at AS Kigali". Pan-Africa Football. Retrieved 16 June 2025. Senegalese striker Ngagne Fall
  5. ^ INGABIRE, FLORIEN (13 January 2025). "Rwanda Premier League: Shocking Defeats for Rayon Sports and APR FC in Huye District – Hobe News". Hobe News. Retrieved 16 June 2025. Amagaju
  6. ^ Okwi, Isaac (23 January 2025). "Denis Omedi's Three-Word Promise To APR Fans – NBS Sport". NBS Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  7. ^ Lusulire, Ronald (9 March 2025). "Rwanda Premier League: APR FC and Rayon Sports play out stalemate in Thousand Hills Derby". Pan-Africa Football. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  8. ^ www.igihe.org (14 April 2025). "Rayon Sports yahagaritse Robertinho na Mazimpaka André". IGIHE (in Kinyarwanda). Retrieved 16 June 2025. Marine FC
  9. ^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (2 June 2025). "Key moments that defined 2024/25 Rwanda Premier League". The New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  10. ^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (17 May 2025). "Bugesera vs Rayon game halted amid fans protest as APR move top". The New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  11. ^ Niyonyungu, Aloys (21 May 2025). "Bugesera FC Triumphs Over Rayon Sports in Resumed League Match | InyaRwanda.com". InyaRwanda.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  12. ^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (13 May 2025). "Match day 27 recap: Refereeing drama, steward on the spot, Vision FC relegated…". The New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Omedi's APR Crowned Rwanda Premier League Champions – NBS Sport". NBS Sport. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  14. ^ Kamasa, Peter (28 May 2025). "Muhazi United relegated from Rwanda Premier League". msn.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  15. ^ "APR FC crowned 2024/2025 Rwanda Premier League champions". cecafaonline.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  16. ^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (31 May 2025). "Niyigena wins Rwanda Premier League player of the season award". The New Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Tables - Premier League - Rwanda - Results, fixtures, tables - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024–25_Rwanda_Premier_League&oldid=1295928544"