Vipers SC head coach Denis Lavagne has insisted his side will approach Thursday’s decisive CECAFA Kagame Cup Group A clash against hosts APR FC with a winning mentality, despite knowing that a draw will be enough to secure a place in the semi-finals.
The Venoms head into the encounter at Amahoro Stadium in commanding position after collecting maximum points from their opening two matches, but Lavagne warned against complacency as his side prepares for what he expects to be their toughest test of the group stage.
“We need to win to reach the semi-finals, but it’s going to be a very difficult game,” Lavagne told the media on Wednesday. “They’re a good team and they need to score so many goals to go top, so I expect it to be a very difficult game.”
Although Vipers require only a point to book their place in the last four as Group A winners, the French tactician stressed that his players will not alter their approach or settle for the minimum required.
“But, for us, we are ready even though we need just a point to get to the semi-finals,” he said. “We have to fight like we did against Gor Mahia.”
Lavagne calls for sharper Vipers showing ahead of titanic Gor Mahia test in Kigali
His remarks underline the mentality that has guided Vipers through the tournament so far. After opening their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Djibouti’s GC Garde Républicaine, the Ugandan champions followed it up with a disciplined 1-0 win over Kenyan champions Gor Mahia to move to six points and the summit of Group A.
APR, meanwhile, have endured a mixed campaign. The Rwandan champions bounced back from a crushing 5-0 defeat to Gor Mahia by defeating Garde Républicaine 3-1, leaving them with three points. However, they now face a daunting task, needing a heavy victory over Vipers to overturn the goal difference and snatch top spot.
With only the group winners guaranteed automatic qualification to the semi-finals, Thursday’s contest promises high intensity, particularly with APR backed by their home supporters and chasing an improbable turnaround.
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For Lavagne, however, the equation remains simple: maintain the fighting spirit that earned victory over Gor Mahia and finish the job in Kigali.
