Rwanda national football team

Rwanda
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
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	124 2 (19 December 2024)
Highest	64 (March 2015)
Lowest	178 (July 1999)
First international
	Burundi 6–2 Rwanda ; (Libreville, Gabon; 29 June 1976)
Biggest win
	Rwanda 9–0 Djibouti ; (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 13 December 2007)
Biggest defeat
	Cameroon 5–0 Rwanda ; (Libreville, Gabon; 7 July 1976) ; Zaire 6–1 Rwanda ; (Gabon; 12 July 1976) ; Tunisia 5–0 Rwanda ; (Tunis, Tunisia; 10 April 1983) ; Uganda 5–0 Rwanda ; (Kampala, Uganda; 1 August 1998)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	1 (first in 2004)
Best result	Group stage (2004)
Afro-Asian Games
Appearances	1 (first in 2003)
Best result	Fourth 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.

History

Rwanda qualified for its first ever Africa Cup of Nations in the 2004 edition.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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).^[8]^[9]

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	0–0	Rwanda	Antananarivo, Madagascar
16:00 UTC+3		Report		Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

25 March Friendly	Madagascar	0–2	Rwanda	Antananarivo, Madagascar
16:00 UTC+3		Report	Mugisha 29' Bizimana 91'	Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

6 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Benin	1–0	Rwanda	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0	Dokou 37'	Report		Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Attendance: 3,600 Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

11 June 2026 World Cup qualification	Lesotho	0–1	Rwanda	Durban, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2		Report	Kwizera 67'	Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

4 September 2025 AFCON qualification	Libya	1–1	Rwanda	Tripoli, Libya
18:00 UTC+2	Al-Dhawi 16'	Report	Nshuti 47'	Stadium: Tripoli Stadium Referee: Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)

10 September 2025 AFCON qualification	Rwanda	0–0	Nigeria	Kigali, Rwanda
17:00 UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Amahoro Stadium Referee: Karim Sabry (Morocco)

11 October 2025 AFCON qualification	Benin	3–0	Rwanda	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00 UTC±0	Mounié 50' Hountondji 67' Imourane 70'	Report		Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Referee: Lyes Bekouassa (Algeria)

15 October 2025 AFCON qualification	Rwanda	2–1	Benin	Kigali, Rwanda
18:00 UTC+2	Nshuti 70' Bizimana 75' (pen.)	Report	Hountondji 42'	Stadium: Amahoro Stadium Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

27 October 2024 CHAN qualification	Djibouti	1–0	Rwanda	Kigali, Rwanda
16:00 UTC+2	Dadzie 79'	Report		Stadium: Amahoro Stadium

31 October 2024 CHAN qualification	Rwanda	3–0 (3–1 agg.)	Djibouti	Kigali, Rwanda
18:00 UTC+2	Muzungu 11' Muzungu 24' Tuyisenge 90'	Report		Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Note: Rwanda won 3–1 on aggregate.

10 November 2025 AFCON qualification	Rwanda	0–1	Libya	Kigali, Rwanda
17:00 UTC+2		Report	Mohamed 84'	Stadium: Amahoro Stadium Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)

18 November 2025 AFCON qualification	Nigeria	1–2	Rwanda	Uyo, Nigeria
16:00 UTC+1	Chukwueze 59'	Report	Mutsinzi 72' Nshuti 75'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Otto Pfister (1972–76)
Metin Türel (1991)
Longin Rudasingwa (1998-1999)
Rudi Gutendorf (1999–00)
Longin Rudasingwa (2000–01)
Ratomir Dujković (2001–04)
Roger Palmgren (2004–05)
Michael Nees (2006–07)
Josip Kuže (2007–08)
Raoul Shungu (2008)
Branko Tucak (2008–09)
Eric Nshimiyimana (2009–10)
Sellas Tetteh (2010–11)
Milutin Sredojević (2011–13)
Eric Nshimiyimana (2013–14)
Stephen Constantine (2014–2015)
Lee Johnson (2015)
Johnny McKinstry (2015–16)
Gilbert Kanyankore (2016)
Jimmy Mulisa (2016)
Antoine Hey (2017–2018)
François Karekezi
Vincent Mashami (2018–2022)
Carlos Alós (2022–2023)
Gerard Buscher (2023)
Torsten Spittler (2023–)

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.^[10]

Caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2024, after the match against Nigeria.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Fiacre Ntwari	(1999-09-25) 25 September 1999 (age 25)	19	0	TS Galaxy
1GK	Adolphe Hakizimana	(2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Rayon Sports
1GK	Maxime Wenssens	(2001-11-17) 17 November 2001 (age 23)	1	0	free agent

2DF	Fitina Omborenga	(1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 28)	69	1	APR
2DF	Thierry Manzi	(1996-07-12) 12 July 1996 (age 28)	48	4	AS Kigali
2DF	Ange Mutsinzi	(1997-11-15) 15 November 1997 (age 27)	26	0	Zira
2DF	Jean Claude Niyomugabo	(1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 (age 26)	10	0	APR
2DF	Aimable Nsabimana	(1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27)	8	0	Kiyovu Sports
2DF	Clement Niyigena	(2001-02-17) 17 February 2001 (age 23)	6	0	APR
2DF	Christian Ishimwe	(1999-02-01) 1 February 1999 (age 25)	4	0	APR
2DF	Gilbert Byiringiro	(2000-07-01) 1 July 2000 (age 24)	0	0	APR
2DF	Yunusu Nshimiyimana	(2001-12-31) 31 December 2001 (age 22)	0	0	APR

3MF	Djihad Bizimana	(1996-12-12) 12 December 1996 (age 28)	58	2	Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih
3MF	Kevin Muhire	(1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 26)	37	0	Rayon Sports
3MF	Bonheur Mugisha	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24)	13	0	AS Marsa
3MF	Jean Bosco Ruboneka	(1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 25)	11	0	APR
3MF	Steve Rubanguka	(1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Al-Nojoom
3MF	Samuel Gueulette	(2000-05-19) 19 May 2000 (age 24)	5	0	RAAL La Louvière
3MF	Jojea Kwizera	(1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 (age 25)	4	1	Rhode Island

4FW	Innocent Nshuti	(1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 (age 26)	19	4	One Knoxville
4FW	Gilbert Mugisha	(1996-07-18) 18 July 1996 (age 28)	13	3	APR
4FW	Arthur Gitego	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22)	6	0	Marines
4FW	Didier Mugisha	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001 (age 23)	3	0	Police
4FW	Hadji Iraguha	(1998-07-18) 18 July 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Rayon Sports
4FW	Olivier Dushimimana	(2000-04-10) 10 April 2000 (age 24)	0	0	APR

Recent call-ups

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

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Gad Muhawenayo	(1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 29)	0	0	Musanze Butare	v. Madagascar; 25 March 2024
GK	Jimmy Djihad Nzeyurwanda		0	0	Kiyovu Sports	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023

DF	Emmanuel Imanishimwe	(1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 29)	46	0	AEL Limassol	v. Lesotho; 11 June 2024
DF	Isaac Mitima	(1997-12-16) 16 December 1997 (age 27)	1	0	Rayon Sports	v. Madagascar; 25 March 2024
DF	Abdul Rwatubyaye	(1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 28)	33	3	AP Brera	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023
DF	Ali Serumogo	(1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 29)	13	0	Kiyovu Sports	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023

MF	Hakim Sahabo	(2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 (age 19)	10	0	Standard Liège	v. Lesotho; 11 June 2024
MF	Olivier Niyonzima	(1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 (age 31)	27	3	Kiyovu Sports	v. Madagascar; 25 March 2024
MF	Lague Byiringiro	(2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 (age 24)	13	1	Sandvikens IF	v. Madagascar; 25 March 2024
MF	Elie Tatou Iradukunda	(2006-10-01) 1 October 2006 (age 18)	1	0	Mukura Victory Sports	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023
MF	Froduard Mugiraneza	(1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Kiyovu Sports	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023

FW	Patrick Sibomana	(1996-10-15) 15 October 1996 (age 28)	19	2	Gor Mahia	v. Lesotho; 11 June 2024
FW	York Rafael	(1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 (age 25)	11	0	Gefle	v. Lesotho; 11 June 2024
FW	Yves Mugunga	(1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 27)	6	1	Kiyovu Sports	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023
FW	Bienvenu Mugenzi	(1993-11-08) 8 November 1993 (age 31)	5	0	Police	v. South Africa; 21 November 2023
FW	Alain Kwitonda	(1997-10-05) 5 October 1997 (age 27)	1	0	APR	v. 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^[11]

Players in bold are still active with Rwanda.

Most appearances

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Haruna Niyonzima	112	6	2006–2022
2	Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza	89	6	2006–2018
3	Jean-Claude Iranzi	76	3	2008–2019
4	Olivier Karekezi	70	24	2000–2013
5	Fitina Omborenga	69	1	2013–present
6	Jean-Luc Ndayishimiye	64	0	2007–2019
7	Djihad Bizimana	62	2	2015–present
8	Meddie Kagere	59	15	2011–present
8	Jacques Tuyisenge	59	16	2011–2022
10	Jean-Claude Ndoli	50	0	2005–2014

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Olivier Karekezi	24	70	0.34	2000–2013
2	Jacques Tuyisenge	16	59	0.27	2011–2022
3	Meddie Kagere	15	59	0.25	2011–present
4	Jean Lomami	14	25	0.56	2003–2009
5	Labama Bokota	13	33	0.39	2007–2012
6	Ernest Sugira	12	36	0.33	2015–2022
7	Saïd Makasi	9	26	0.35	2003–2009
8	Jimmy Gatété	8	41	0.2	1996–2009
9	Daddy Birori	7	25	0.28	2009–2014
9	Muhadjiri Hakizimana	7	35	0.2	2016–present

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record									Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Not a FIFA member								Not a FIFA member
1982	Did not enter								Declined participation
1986	Did not enter								Declined participation
1990	Withdrew								Withdrew
1994	Did not enter								Declined participation
1998	Did not qualify								2	0	0	2	1	5
2002									2	0	1	1	2	4
2006									12	2	3	7	10	17
2010									10	3	2	5	8	11
2014									8	1	3	4	7	13
2018									2	0	0	2	1	4
2022									8	2	1	5	12	9
2026	To be determined								4	2	1	1	3	1
2030									To be determined
2034									To be determined
Total		0/11							48	10	11	27	44	64

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record
Appearances: 1
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957	Part of Belgium
1959
1962
1963	Not affiliated to CAF
1965
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978	Did not enter
1980	Did not enter
1982	Did not qualify
1984	Did not qualify
1986	Did not enter
1988	Withdrew
1990	Did not enter
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000	Did not qualify
2002	Did not qualify
2004	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	3	3
2006	Did not qualify
2008
2010
2012
2013
2015	Disqualified
2017	Did not qualify
2019
2021
2023
2025
2027	To be determined
2029	To be determined
Total	Group stage	1/34	3	1	1	1	3	3

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 4
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2009	Did not qualify
2011	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	2	7
2014	Did not qualify
2016	Quarter-finals	5th	4	2	0	2	5	7
2018	Group stage	13th	3	1	1	1	1	1
2020	Quarter-finals	7th	4	1	2	1	3	3
2022	Did not qualify
Total	Quarter-finals	4/7	14	4	3	7	11	18

CECAFA Cup

Honours

Regional

CECAFA Cup
- Winners (1): 1999
- Runners-up (6): 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015
- Third place (4): 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006

References

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
^ "Rwanda's football mercenaries". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
^ "Rwanda snatch dramatic point". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
^ "Rwanda dumped out". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2004. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
^ "Rwanda football shirt 1994 – 1996". oldfootballshirts.com. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ "Member Association – Rwanda". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ "Rwanda football Boss Rallies The Wasps Ahead Of Benin Clash - Goal.com". goal.com. Goal. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ "Rwanda's Amavumbi Stars invite Uganda Cranes on Feb 6th". starafrica.com. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ "Final Squad". Twitter. Rwanda FA.
^ "Rwanda". National Football Teams.

External links

Official website
Rwanda at CAF
Rwanda at FIFA
Rwanda national football team on Facebook
Rwanda national football team on Twitter
Rwanda national football team picture

Discover Rwanda

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.

[3] "Rwanda's football mercenaries". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.

[4] "Rwanda snatch dramatic point". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.

[5] "Rwanda dumped out". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2004. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2013.

[6] "Rwanda football shirt 1994 – 1996". oldfootballshirts.com. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[7] "Member Association – Rwanda". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[8] "Rwanda football Boss Rallies The Wasps Ahead Of Benin Clash - Goal.com". goal.com. Goal. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[9] "Rwanda's Amavumbi Stars invite Uganda Cranes on Feb 6th". starafrica.com. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[10] "Final Squad". Twitter. Rwanda FA.

[11] "Rwanda". National Football Teams.

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