After 11 matches played in the 2025/26 Rwanda Premier League season, APR FC has managed only five wins, with the remaining results being mostly draws. This situation has raised serious questions among fans and football observers about where the real problem lies: is it the coach, the club management, the players’ quality, or is this simply the true level of the team?
Concerns about APR FC’s performances began to surface at the end of August during the club’s pre-season tournament known as the Inkera y’Abahizi. APR FC finished behind all four participating teams, a result that some dismissed as “just friendly matches,” while others saw early warning signs.
The team’s elimination in the semi-finals of the CECAFA Kagame Cup also did not cause much alarm at first. The tournament lacked several traditional regional giants, and APR FC eventually finished third after losing only to Singida Black Stars and Al Hilal SC. Many supporters believed the team would improve once the league started.
However, doubts grew stronger when APR FC narrowly defeated Gicumbi FC 2–1, needing extra time to secure the win. Some fans accepted it as part of football, while others argued that the team was already showing signs of struggling.
APR FC then beat Mukura VS 1–0 in a controversial match that later saw referee Ishimwe Jean Claude, known as “Cucuri,” suspended due to multiple officiating errors. Mukura VS were widely viewed as having suffered significantly from those decisions, which further fueled debate about APR FC’s true form.
From that point on, APR FC recorded a convincing 3–0 win over rivals Rayon Sports, a result that briefly restored confidence among supporters. The team also beat Etincelles FC and Marine FC, but drew matches against AS Kigali, Police FC, and Gorilla FC, results that kept questions alive.
Is APR FC Really Underperforming?
Currently, APR FC sits second in the league table, six points behind leaders Police FC. Police FC also have the advantage of one extra match played, as APR FC have already faced Al Hilal, one of the Sudanese clubs added to the league this season.
While a six-point gap may not seem decisive, especially with many matches still to play, the real concern is performance rather than points. Police FC are widely praised for their consistency and intensity, while APR FC are struggling to convince with their style of play.
Even more worrying for APR FC supporters is the fact that Rayon Sports, a team many consider to be going through one of its weakest periods in recent years, currently have a similar points tally. This comparison has led some fans to question whether APR FC are truly operating at a higher level.
This season has also produced a rare defensive collapse. APR FC conceded three goals in a single league match when they lost 3–2 to Musanze FC. The last time a Rwandan league team scored three goals against APR FC was in 2016, when Rayon Sports beat them 4–0.
Where Does the Problem Lie?
This is the third consecutive season since APR FC returned to a policy of recruiting foreign players, a strategy they last used in 2012. Despite this, dissatisfaction among fans has continued to grow since 2023.
Supporters have expressed frustration with the coaching situation, starting with French coach Thierry Froger, who left after winning the league in the 2023/24 season, followed by Darko Nović, who departed while the club was still competing for three trophies in 2024/25. The current coach, Taleb Abderrahim, has not escaped criticism either.
These concerns are not limited to emotional fan reactions. APR FC’s performances on the pitch this season have raised genuine tactical and technical questions. In many matches, the team appears second-best in physical intensity, struggles to create clear chances, wastes scoring opportunities, and finds it difficult to move the ball smoothly through midfield.
By Matchday 11, coach Taleb still seems uncertain about his best starting eleven. He has also struggled to make substitutions that change the course of games, often delaying changes until around the 70th minute, with limited impact from players coming off the bench.
Taleb Abderrahim, a 62-year-old Moroccan coach holding UEFA Pro and CAF Pro licenses, is reportedly on a three-year project with APR FC aimed at building a sustainable playing philosophy. However, progress has been slower than expected.
APR FC’s technical bench includes Taleb himself, assistant coach Haj Taeb (a former goalkeeper), goalkeeper coach Mugabo Alexis, and fitness coach Chahid Mohamed. Despite this sizeable technical team, questions remain about the squad’s fitness levels and ability to maintain intensity throughout matches.
Many players appear to lack urgency and confidence, often failing to make a difference during games. Coaches also appear relatively calm on the touchline, rarely applying visible pressure or issuing constant tactical instructions to players.
APR FC are often among the last teams to step onto the pitch for warm-ups, and Taleb is rarely the first to make substitutions, whether his team is leading or trailing. This cautious approach has become a major talking point.
What Does Taleb Say?
After the draw against Gorilla FC, coach Taleb Abderrahim told journalists that his team dominated the match but failed to score. He acknowledged some weaknesses, including striker Djibril Ouattara’s struggle to regain full form after missing nearly three months due to injury.
“We created many chances today but failed to score,” Taleb said. “That is football. Sometimes you are at the top, sometimes you go down before rising again.”
He also noted that midfielder Memel Dao had been unavailable for nearly two months due to injury but returned to action in the 72nd minute against Gorilla FC. Taleb emphasized that there are still 22 league matches remaining and enough time to improve.
On substitutions, Taleb defended his approach: “I don’t change players just for the sake of it. I give players enough time to play. Around the 70th minute, I can make changes. My objectives are not the same as the fans’. I must give players time. If I change them too early, I remove them while they are still playing well.”
Taleb also explained his decision to start with three strikers — Mamadou Sy, Djibril Ouattara, and William Togui — and later replace them with Mugisha Gilbert, Iraguha Hadji, and Hakim Kiwanuka, insisting that attacking intent remained.
On the other side, Gorilla FC coach Alain Kirasa dismissed Taleb’s complaints about missed penalties as excuses.
“We were better than APR FC in terms of play and preparation,” Kirasa said. “We wanted all three points but accepted one. If he says there were penalties, that is an excuse to protect his job.”
Kirasa added that APR FC’s decision to start with three strikers actually benefited Gorilla FC, as those players rarely tracked back when out of possession.
APR FC will return to action on Saturday, December 20, 2025, when they host Gasogi United in a Matchday 12 fixture — a game that could further define the direction of their season.
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