2020–21 Rwanda Premier League

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Rwanda Premier League
Season2020–21
ChampionsAPR
RelegatedSunrise
AS Muhanga
Champions LeagueAPR
Confederation CupAS Kigali

The 2020–21 Rwanda Premier League is the 44th season of the Rwanda Premier League, the top-tier football league in Rwanda. The season started on 4 December 2020 with all games taking place behind closed doors before being suspended on 12 December due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

While the season originally started with a full round robin format, due to the pandemic the league switched to four groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group qualifying to the champions round. APR won the title on goal difference over AS Kigali as both teams finished with 19 points out of a possible 21, with both teams drawing each other 1–1 on the second match day. Title celebrations were muted because of the pandemic.[2]

Five teams were at risk of the last relegation spot on the final day of the season. Muhanga lost every single game in the relegation group and were relegated with matches to spare. Sunrise lost 2–1 to Gorilla FC on the final match day to be the final team relegated.[3]

Teams[edit]

A total of 16 teams competed in the 2020–21 season with the top team qualifying for the CAF Champions League, the runner-ups qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup and the bottom two relegated to the Rwandan Second Division.

League Changes[edit]

Rutsiro and Gorilla FC were promoted to the league after making the second division play-off final.[4]

League table[edit]

Championship Round[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 APR (C) 7 6 1 0 21 1 +20 19 Champions, Qualification to the 2021–22 CAF Champions League
2 AS Kigali 7 6 1 0 14 2 +12 19 Qualification to the 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup
3 Espoir 7 3 1 3 9 11 −2 10
4 Police 7 2 2 3 7 11 −4 8
5 Marines 7 2 1 4 5 12 −7 7
6 Rutsiro 7 1 3 3 5 12 −7 6
7 Rayon Sports 7 1 2 4 7 12 −5 5
8 Bugesera 7 1 1 5 5 12 −7 4
Source: soccerway.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Relegation Round[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Kiyovu Sports 7 4 1 2 8 3 +5 13
2 Gasogi United 7 3 3 1 13 7 +6 12
3 Etincelles 7 4 0 3 13 8 +5 12
4 Musanze 7 4 0 3 11 14 −3 12
5 Mukura 7 3 2 2 8 7 +1 11
6 Gorilla 7 3 1 3 10 9 +1 10
7 Sunrise (R) 7 2 3 2 13 8 +5 9 Relegated
8 AS Muhanga (R) 7 0 0 7 3 23 −20 0
Source: soccerway.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

References[edit]

  1. ^ [1], RSSSF.com
  2. ^ "APR FC crowned champions of 2020/21 Rwanda National Football League". 27 June 2021.
  3. ^ Muhire, Léon-Pierre (29 June 2021). "AS Muhanga, Sunrise FC relegated". New Times.
  4. ^ Nsabiyama, Eddie. "Football is back: How will the 2020-21 Rwanda Premier League look like?". New Times.