Panthère du Ndé welcome Rayon Sports for CAF tie

Panthère du Ndé will host Rwanda’s Rayon Sports in the opening round of their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, with the visitors now in Cameroon for the September 5 meeting. The match will be played at Yaoundé’s Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, giving Panthère the first opportunity to establish an advantage before the return fixture in Rwanda.

Panthère enter the tie sixth in Cameroon’s Elite One with 35 points from 26 matches. Their league record stands at 10 wins, five draws and 11 defeats, with 32 goals scored and 26 conceded. Their latest five results show mixed form: a draw against Aigle Royal, wins over Aigle Royal de Moungo and Stade Renard, and defeats by Dynamo de Douala and Victoria United. The recent run underlines the challenge facing the Cameroonian side as it switches from domestic competition to continental football.

Rayon Sports travelled after a brief gathering involving the club’s administration and supporters. Their squad includes Cameroonian goalkeeper Junior Dande, who previously played for Apejes de Mfou and Canon Yaoundé and brings experience of the local championship to the Rwandan team.

Panthère have added several new players as they prepare for the tie and have been holding a residential camp at the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo. The additions are intended to strengthen a squad facing a Rayon side seeking a strong result in Cameroon before settling the contest at home.