In the week of a World Cup qualifying match with Nigeria, Rwanda, the Group C leaders are embroiled in a match-fixing scandal in their domestic league.

A tape surfaced this Monday in which an assistant coach of one of the premier league clubs, Muhazi United who is hoping to cross at the close of the season to go the Kiyovu next season as the head coach.

But the club, the assistant coach, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza,  hopes to join, is struggling in relegation waters. He therefore opted to find means to avoid the club from dropping so he could coach the side in the lead league.  

His current club, Muhazi United have commenced investigations.  According to local reports,

Mugiraneza was an assistant coach at Musanze FC when they finished third in the 2023/24 Rwanda Premier League season before he left for Muhazi United as assistant coach to Emmanuel Ruremesha.

In a leaked recording that surfaced on Monday, the coach is heard saying that he has agreed a deal to coach Kiyovu next season.

With Kiyovu struggling for relegation, Mugiraneza is heard in the recording asking Musanze FC defender Shafiq Bakaki ‘for a favour’ to let Kiyovu beat his team when the two teams met over the weekend.

The win would have got the Green Baggies out of the relegation zone. In return, Miggy promised to take the player with him to the club in return.

However, the player turned down the offer, explaining that it was against his Islamic principles at this time of Ramadan and he was observing “Swaum”.

Musanze went on to win 3-0 with Bakaki scoring the second goal of the game.

The match fixing scandal comes two months after Bakaki was suspended by the club in January over “unprofessional” behaviour during their shattering 3-0 defeat to Vision in Rwanda Premier League.

In an interview with Times Sport, Musanze FC president Placide Tuyishime emphasized that the whole team had known Mugiraneza’s unfortunate plan because he was with the player during the phone call and his plot failed as a result.

“We were with the player when he (Mugiraneza) called him. So we knew about this even before the game took place,” Tuyishime told Times Sport.

While match-fixing results in hefty penalties including a lengthy ban from football activities once found guilty, Tuyishime said it is in hands of the local football governing body (Ferwafa) to decide what to do about the matter.

“I have nothing to say about him, all we had to do is to tell the media what he was trying to do. The FA can follow up on the case if they wish but it isn’t doing any good to the image of our league. It’s so unprofessional,” Tuyishime stated.

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First, Fouzi Lekjaa coasted home to an overwhelming victory at the election into FIFA Council on Wednesday in Cairo. Three days later, the club he mentored since 2009, before he became the president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has just emerged as Moroccan champions!

Last Saturday, March 15, 2025, will forever be etched in the annals of Moroccan football. Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RSB) clinched, for the first time in its history, the highly coveted Botola Pro title.

This crowning achievement came during the 25th matchday, where RSB faced Union Sportive de Touarga (UST) at the municipal stadium in Berkane.

With a comfortable 17-point lead over its closest rivals, AS FAR and Wydad de Casablanca, RSB sealed its destiny as national champions.

✅ An Ascendant Journey: From Humble Beginnings to National Glory

Founded in 1938 under the name Association Sportive de Berkane, RSB long navigated the lower divisions of Moroccan football. In 1976, the club adopted the name Union Islamique de Berkane, before merging in 1981 with the local Jeunesse Sportive to become the Renaissance Sportive de Berkane we know today.

Despite some flashes of brilliance, such as a runner-up finish in 1983 and a Throne Cup final in 1987, the club struggled to establish itself consistently among the elite.

✅ The Fouzi Lekjaa Era: A Radical Transformation

The transformation of RSB began in 2009 with the arrival of Fouzi Lekjaa as president.

Under his leadership, the club underwent a profound restructuring, both organizationally and financially.

Lekjaa invested in infrastructure, notably equipping the club with a modern training centre, and attracted major sponsors, ensuring financial stability.

This strategy bore fruit: RSB gained promotion to the second division in 2011, and to Botola Pro the following season. Under Lekjaa’s guidance, the club gradually established itself as a formidable force in Moroccan and African football.

✅ Continental Success and International Recognition

RSB did not just shine on the national stage. The club won the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2020 and 2022, and reached the final in 2019.

The municipal stadium in Berkane became an impregnable fortress, where African giants such as TP Mazembe, Club Sfaxien, and Zamalek stumbled.

Additionally, RSB secured the Throne Cup in 2018 and 2022, further solidifying its reputation as a consistent and high-performing club.

✅ The Hakim Benabdellah Era: Continuity and Ambition

In August 2019, Fouzi Lekjaa handed over the presidency to Hakim Benabdellah.

The latter continued the work begun, to make RSB a reference point in Morocco and Africa.

Under his leadership, the club continued its upward trajectory, reaping the rewards of rigorous organization and exemplary management. The Botola Pro title this season is the culmination of these efforts and a testament to RSB’s ever-renewed ambition.

✅ A Promising Future for RSB

This first national title is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new era for Renaissance Sportive de Berkane.

The club now aspires to establish itself on the African stage and to enrich its trophy cabinet.

With solid management, modern infrastructure, and a clear strategic vision, RSB is well-equipped to meet future challenges and continue writing the history of Moroccan football.

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In a dramatic twist on Tuesday, the eagerly awaited Egyptian Premier League derby between Zamalek and Ahly was cancelled following escalating disputes over match officials.

The defending champions had threatened to withdraw from the league after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) dismissed their repeated requests for a postponement and the appointment of foreign referees.

“We insist on respecting the Egyptian Pro League (EPL) decisions and reiterate our demand to play tonight’s game with foreign officials. If our demands are not met, Ahly will not continue in the league,” the club’s board said in a statement.

Sticking to their stance, Ahly failed to show up at Cairo Stadium, prompting referee Mahmoud Bassiouny to call off the match 15 minutes after the scheduled kickoff at 9:30 p.m. local time.

The dispute had been brewing for days, with Ahly expressing strong dissatisfaction over recent refereeing performances, alleging bias in previous matches.

The controversy intensified after the EFA assigned a local officiating crew on Monday night, despite prior assurances to the EPL that foreign referees would be used for key fixtures during the league’s final phase.

Zamalek, on the other hand, confirmed their readiness to play.

The EFA defended its decision, citing a lack of time to secure foreign officials after the match was scheduled on 5 March.

The playoffs draw, held on Wednesday, had set up an early showdown between the two Cairo giants in the first round.

The game carried significant weight in the title race. Ahly, aiming for a third consecutive championship, trail league leaders Pyramids FC, who have 42 points—three more than Ahly. Zamalek sit in third place with 32 points.

According to EPL regulations adopted this season, any team that withdraws from a match is considered to have forfeited and will be deducted three points. If a team withdraws from the competition after it has started, it faces relegation to the lower division and a two-season ban from the Premier League, along with financial penalties.

-Ahram

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