These two iconic teams reached this milestone on Wednesday, with APR FC advancing after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Police FC, while Rayon Sports secured their spot by defeating Mukura Victory Sports (VS).
For over 31 years, APR FC and Rayon Sports have been the dominant forces in Rwandan football, regularly vying for top honors. However, since the Peace Cup's inception in 1994, their showdowns in the finals have been rare yet memorable.
Their first-ever Peace Cup final face-off was in 2002, where APR FC triumphed with a 2-1 victory, clinching the championship.
The rivalry reignited in 2010, with APR FC once again emerging victorious. Patrick Mafisango's dramatic last-minute goal sealed a narrow 1-0 win for the team.
History shifted in 2016 when Rayon Sports claimed the Peace Cup title after defeating APR FC 1-0. The decisive goal came in the 90th minute, courtesy of Ismailla Diarra, sending Rayon Sports fans into raptures.
The most recent clash between these rivals occurred in the 2023 Peace Cup final at Huye Stadium. Rayon Sports etched another victory with a 1-0 win. The crucial goal followed a shot from Hertier Nzinga Luvumbu, initially saved by goalkeeper Ishimwe Pierre but ultimately converted by Eric Ngendahimana.
Interestingly, matches between these two powerhouses in the Peace Cup final tend to be low-scoring but intensely competitive. Across their four encounters so far, only six goals have been scored, with a single goal often proving decisive.
APR FC has been a frequent finalist in the Peace Cup, now reaching the final for the 18th time. Of their 17 previous appearances, they have lifted the trophy an impressive 13 times.
Rayon Sports, too, boasts an illustrious record, entering their 10th Peace Cup final. They have celebrated victory in five of their nine prior attempts. The most prolific Peace Cup final in recent memory was in 2011 when APR FC outscored Police FC 4-2, delivering a match to remember.
Since 2005, only one Peace Cup final has been decided by a penalty shootout. This occurred in 2018 when Rayon Sports and Mukura VS played out a goalless draw, with Mukura VS prevailing 3-1 on penalties.
Apart from these fierce rivals, other notable Peace Cup champions include AS Kigali, with three titles, and Police FC, with two championships to their name.
The current holder of the Peace Cup title is Police FC, who clinched the trophy with a 2-1 victory over Bugesera FC in the most recent final.
In 2016, Rayon Sports lifted the Peace Cup trophy after a narrow victory against APR FC.
Rayon Sports celebrating their monumental victory in the 2023 Peace Cup final after defeating their arch-rivals APR FC.
APR FC and Rayon Sports are gearing up for their highly anticipated fifth clash in the Peace Cup final, setting the stage for another chapter in their storied rivalry.