Rwanda national football team

Last updated

Rwanda
Rwanda FA.png
Nickname(s) Amavubi (The Wasps)
Association Rwanda Football Federation
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation CECAFA (East Africa)
Head coach Torsten Spittler
Captain Djihad Bizimana
Most caps Haruna Niyonzima (112)
Top scorer Olivier Karekezi (24)
Home stadium Amahoro Stadium
FIFA code RWA
Kit left arm thingreenborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body erreajaro1819yg.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thingreenborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts erreajaro1819gy.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm thinyellowborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body erreajaro1819bly.png
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Kit right arm thinyellowborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts erreajaro1819bly.png
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Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 124 Increase2.svg 2 (28 November 2024) [1]
Highest64 (March 2015)
Lowest178 (July 1999)
First international
Flag of Burundi (1967-1982).svg  Burundi 6–2 Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg
(Libreville, Gabon; 29 June 1976)
Biggest win
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 9–0 Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svg
(Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 13 December 2007)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 5–0 Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg
(Libreville, Gabon; 7 July 1976)
Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire 6–1 Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg
(Gabon; 12 July 1976)
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 5–0 Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg
(Tunis, Tunisia; 10 April 1983)
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 5–0 Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg
(Kampala, Uganda; 1 August 1998)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 2004 )
Best resultGroup stage (2004)
Afro-Asian Games
Appearances1 (first in 2003 )
Best resultFourth place (2003)

The Rwanda national football team represents Rwanda in international football and is controlled by the Rwandese Association Football Federation, the governing body of football in Rwanda, and competes as a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as well as the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), a CAF sub-confederation that governs football in East and Central Africa. The team bears the nickname Amavubi (Kinyarwanda for The Wasps), and primarily plays its home games at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali, the nation's capital. They have never qualified for a World Cup finals, and reached their only Africa Cup of Nations in 2004.

Contents

History

Rwanda qualified for its first ever Africa Cup of Nations in the 2004 edition. [2] At the tournament, they lost their opening match 2–1 to Tunisia before winning their first ever point in the competition after a 1–1 draw against Guinea. [3] Rwanda went on to beat DR Congo in their final group match by a 1–0 scoreline, but it wasn't enough, as elsewhere in the group, Guinea and Tunisia drew, meaning both teams progressed to the quarter-finals, and Rwanda were eliminated. [4]

Team image

Kit

In 2001, after adopting the new flag of Rwanda, The Federation (FERWAFA) changed the color of the team kit. The new team kit consists of a yellow jersey, blue shorts and green socks for home matches, while their away kit is either all white or all blue. Adidas has generally been the manufacturer for the Rwandan team since 2001. [5] However, between 2004 and 2009, Rwanda used L-sport as their outfitter, and in 2015 the side started wearing kit provided by AMS, an emerging Australian supplier.

Names

Under the official FIFA Trigramme the team's name is abbreviated as RWA; this acronym is used by FIFA, the CAF and the CECAFA to identify the team in official competitions. [6] However the team was more commonly known as the RR, the acronym for the country's official name, Repubulika y'u Rwanda or République du Rwanda, which the local press used when they referred to the team as the RR XI. The national team is often referred to as Amavubi (The Wasps). [7] [8]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2024

22 March Friendly Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svg0–0Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Antananarivo, Madagascar
16:00  UTC+3 Report Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
25 March Friendly Madagascar  Flag of Madagascar.svg0–2Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Antananarivo, Madagascar
16:00  UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
6 June 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  Flag of Benin.svg1–0Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00  UTC±0
Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Attendance: 3,600
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification Lesotho  Flag of Lesotho.svg0–1Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Durban, South Africa
18:00  UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)
4 September 2025 AFCON qualification Libya  Flag of Libya.svg1–1Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Tripoli, Libya
18:00  UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Tripoli Stadium
Referee: Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)
10 September 2025 AFCON qualification Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Kigali, Rwanda
17:00  UTC+2 Report Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Karim Sabry (Morocco)
11 October 2025 AFCON qualification Benin  Flag of Benin.svg3–0Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00  UTC±0 Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Referee: Lyes Bekouassa (Algeria)
15 October 2025 AFCON qualification Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg2–1Flag of Benin.svg  Benin Kigali, Rwanda
18:00  UTC+2
Report Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)
27 October 2024 CHAN qualification Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svg1–0Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Kigali, Rwanda
16:00  UTC+2
Report Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
31 October 2024 CHAN qualification Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg3–0
(3–1 agg.)
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti Kigali, Rwanda
18:00  UTC+2 Report Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Note: Rwanda won 3–1 on aggregate.
10 November 2025 AFCON qualification Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg0–1Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Kigali, Rwanda
17:00  UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
18 November 2025 AFCON qualification Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg1–2Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Uyo, Nigeria
16:00  UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Libya and Nigeria on 4 and 10 September 2024. [9]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria .
No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
1 GK Fiacre Ntwari (1999-09-25) 25 September 1999 (age 25)190 Flag of South Africa.svg TS Galaxy
1 GK Adolphe Hakizimana (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22)10 Flag of Rwanda.svg Rayon Sports
1 GK Maxime Wenssens (2001-11-17) 17 November 2001 (age 23)10free agent

2 DF Fitina Omborenga (1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 28)691 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
2 DF Thierry Manzi (1996-07-12) 12 July 1996 (age 28)484 Flag of Rwanda.svg AS Kigali
2 DF Ange Mutsinzi (1997-11-15) 15 November 1997 (age 27)260 Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Zira
2 DF Jean Claude Niyomugabo (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 (age 26)100 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
2 DF Aimable Nsabimana (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27)80 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports
2 DF Clement Niyigena (2001-02-17) 17 February 2001 (age 23)60 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
2 DF Christian Ishimwe (1999-02-01) 1 February 1999 (age 25)40 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
2 DF Gilbert Byiringiro (2000-07-01) 1 July 2000 (age 24)00 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
2 DF Yunusu Nshimiyimana (2001-12-31) 31 December 2001 (age 22)00 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR

3 MF Djihad Bizimana (1996-12-12) 12 December 1996 (age 27)582 Flag of Ukraine.svg Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih
3 MF Kevin Muhire (1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 26)370 Flag of Rwanda.svg Rayon Sports
3 MF Bonheur Mugisha (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24)130 Flag of Tunisia.svg AS Marsa
3 MF Jean Bosco Ruboneka (1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 25)110 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
3 MF Steve Rubanguka (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 28)80 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nojoom
3 MF Samuel Gueulette (2000-05-19) 19 May 2000 (age 24)50 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg RAAL La Louvière
3 MF Jojea Kwizera (1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 25)41 Flag of the United States.svg Rhode Island

4 FW Innocent Nshuti (1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 (age 26)194 Flag of the United States.svg One Knoxville
4 FW Gilbert Mugisha (1996-07-18) 18 July 1996 (age 28)133 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR
4 FW Arthur Gitego (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)60 Flag of Rwanda.svg Marines
4 FW Didier Mugisha (2001-01-26) 26 January 2001 (age 23)30 Flag of Rwanda.svg Police
4 FW Hadji Iraguha (1998-07-18) 18 July 1998 (age 26)20 Flag of Rwanda.svg Rayon Sports
4 FW Olivier Dushimimana (2000-04-10) 10 April 2000 (age 24)00 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Rwanda in the last 12 months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Gad Muhawenayo (1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 29)00 Flag of Rwanda.svg Musanze Butare v. Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar ; 25 March 2024
GK Jimmy Djihad Nzeyurwanda 00 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023

DF Emmanuel Imanishimwe (1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 29)460 Flag of Morocco.svg AS FAR v. Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho ; 11 June 2024
DF Isaac Mitima (1997-12-16) 16 December 1997 (age 26)10 Flag of Rwanda.svg Rayon Sports v. Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar ; 25 March 2024
DF Abdul Rwatubyaye (1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 28)333 Flag of North Macedonia.svg AP Brera v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023
DF Ali Serumogo (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 29)130 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023

MF Hakim Sahabo (2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 (age 19)100 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Standard Liège v. Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho ; 11 June 2024
MF Olivier Niyonzima (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 (age 31)273 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports v. Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar ; 25 March 2024
MF Lague Byiringiro (2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 (age 24)131 Flag of Sweden.svg Sandvikens IF v. Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar ; 25 March 2024
MF Elie Tatou Iradukunda (2006-10-01) 1 October 2006 (age 18)10 Flag of Rwanda.svg Mukura Victory Sports v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023
MF Froduard Mugiraneza (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27)00 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023

FW Patrick Sibomana (1996-10-15) 15 October 1996 (age 28)192 Flag of Kenya.svg Gor Mahia v. Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho ; 11 June 2024
FW York Rafael (1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 (age 25)110 Flag of Sweden.svg Gefle v. Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho ; 11 June 2024
FW Yves Mugunga (1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 27)61 Flag of Rwanda.svg Kiyovu Sports v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023
FW Bienvenu Mugenzi (1993-11-08) 8 November 1993 (age 31)50 Flag of Rwanda.svg Police v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023
FW Alain Kwitonda (1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 (age 27)10 Flag of Rwanda.svg APR v. Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ; 21 November 2023

  • DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
  • PRE Preliminary squad.
  • RET Player has retired from international football.
  • SUS Serving suspension.

Player records

As of 10 September 2024 [10]
Players in bold are still active with Rwanda.

Most appearances

RankNameCapsGoalsCareer
1 Haruna Niyonzima 11262006–2022
2 Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza 8962006–2018
3 Jean-Claude Iranzi 7632008–2019
4 Olivier Karekezi 70242000–2013
5 Fitina Omborenga 6912013–present
6 Jean-Luc Ndayishimiye 6402007–2019
7 Djihad Bizimana 6222015–present
8 Meddie Kagere 59152011–present
Jacques Tuyisenge 59162011–2022
10 Jean-Claude Ndoli 5002005–2014

Top goalscorers

RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1 Olivier Karekezi 24700.342000–2013
2 Jacques Tuyisenge 16590.272011–2022
3 Meddie Kagere 15590.252011–present
4 Jean Lomami 14250.562003–2009
5 Labama Bokota 13330.392007–2012
6 Ernest Sugira 12360.332015–2022
7 Saïd Makasi 9260.352003–2009
8 Jimmy Gatété 8410.21996–2009
9 Daddy Birori 7250.282009–2014
Muhadjiri Hakizimana 7350.22016–present

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Argentina.svg 1978 Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
Flag of Spain.svg 1982 Did not enterDeclined participation
Flag of Mexico.svg 1986
Flag of Italy.svg 1990 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of the United States.svg 1994 Did not enterDeclined participation
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1998 Did not qualify200215
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Flag of Japan.svg 2002 201124
Flag of Germany.svg 2006 122371017
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010 10325811
Flag of Brazil.svg 2014 8134713
Flag of Russia.svg 2018 200214
Flag of Qatar.svg 2022 8215129
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of the United States.svg 2026 To be determined421131
Flag of Morocco.svg Flag of Portugal.svg Flag of Spain.svg 2030 To be determined
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2034
Total0/11481011274464

CECAFA Cup

Honours

Regional

See also

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