Ibyimana Cofi
APR FC coach Taleb Abderrahim said his team faced a very difficult challenge against Al Hilal Omdurman, comparing the Sudanese side to the Sudan national football team because of the quality and depth of players it possesses.
He made these remarks after APR FC suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Al Hilal in the Matchday 30 fixture of the 2025/2026 BK Pro League season.
After the match, Taleb Abderrahim apologized to APR FC supporters and the club’s management for the disappointing result, admitting it was not what he had expected.
He said, “First of all, I apologize to our fans and management. I did not expect such a result.”
The coach explained that defensive mistakes from his players were the main reason behind the defeat, insisting that Al Hilal did not completely outplay APR FC in terms of overall football performance.
he added “We made three unforgivable mistakes. As you saw, it was not because they dominated us in style of play, but because we handed them the three points through our defensive errors”
Taleb also revealed that APR FC entered the match without some key starting players, something he said greatly affected the midfield performance.
Speaking about goalkeeper Adolphe, who was substituted in the first half, the coach explained that he suffered dizziness after being hit in the head by the ball.
The Moroccan tactician stressed that competing against Al Hilal requires a well-prepared and experienced squad, noting that the Sudanese giants possess many high-level players.
“The team we played against is like the Sudan national team. They have 42 top-level players, while I only have 17. If we want to go far in the Champions League next season, we need players with experience in such competitions,” he said.
He further explained that he tried to use some young players, but Al Hilal’s experience became evident during crucial moments of the game.
Despite the defeat, Taleb urged his players to quickly move on and focus on their next league match against AS Kigali on Sunday, a game that could bring them closer to winning the league title.
“We must forget what happened today. Tomorrow we will begin intense training in preparation for Sunday’s match. If we win that game, we will have a 99% chance of winning the league title,” he said.
He added that only four matches remain and APR FC needs just four more points to secure the championship.
Taleb Abderrahim also criticized the officiating during the match, claiming that Al Hilal’s goalkeeper should have received a red card after handling the ball outside the penalty area, but the referee ignored the incident.
APR FC currently sits in third place in the league standings, trailing league leaders Al Hilal by 11 points.
APR FC coach Taleb Abderrahim blames costly defensive errors after the 4-0 loss to Al Hilal Omdurman.
Intense action on the pitch as APR FC players fought hard against Al Hilal Omdurman in a thrilling clash
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