Final day victories by USM Alger and Rayon Sports over Kenya’s Gor Mahia and Tanzania’s Young Africa respectively on Wednesday saw the former qualify for the quarter finals from Group D.
USMA finished top of the group after beating Gor Mahia 2-1 in Algiers while in the corresponding tie in Kigali, Rayon Sport edged Yanga as Young Africans are nicknamed by a solitary goal to finish second on nine points, two of USMA. Gor Mahia had eight points and Yanga at the bottom on four points.
It was the first time a Rwandese club had made it to the knockout stage of a major continental club championship. And it was Bonfilscaleb Bimenyimana’s 19th minute strike that cemented the current generation of Rayon into the history books of Rwanda football.
Backed an enthusiastic crowd who defied a downpour before and during the match, Rayon held to claim victory and book a date at the table of men for the next stage.
