Wikipedia

Rwanda national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Rwanda women's national football team.

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.

Rwanda
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Amavubi (The Wasps)
AssociationRwanda Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA (East Africa)
Head coachTorsten Spittler
CaptainDjihad Bizimana
Most capsHaruna Niyonzima (112)
Top scorerOlivier Karekezi (24)
Home stadiumAmahoro Stadium
FIFA codeRWA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 124 Increase 2 (28 November 2024)[1]
Highest64 (March 2015)
Lowest178 (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
Appearances1 (first in 2004)
Best resultGroup stage (2004)
Afro-Asian Games
Appearances1 (first in 2003)
Best resultFourth place (2003)

History

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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

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Kit

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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

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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

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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

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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
Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
6 June 2026 World Cup qualification Benin   1–0   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   0–1   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   1–1   Rwanda Tripoli, Libya
18:00 UTC+2
Report
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
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
Report
Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)
27 October 2024 CHAN qualification Djibouti   1–0   Rwanda Kigali, Rwanda
16:00 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
31 October 2024 CHAN qualification Rwanda   3–0
(3–1 agg.)		   Djibouti Kigali, Rwanda
18:00 UTC+2
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
Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
18 November 2025 AFCON qualification Nigeria   1–2   Rwanda Uyo, Nigeria
16:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

Coaching history

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Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

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Current squad

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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.
No. 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 27) 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

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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   AS FAR v.   Lesotho; 11 June 2024
DF Isaac Mitima (1997-12-16) 16 December 1997 (age 26) 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

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As of 10 September 2024[11]
Players in bold are still active with Rwanda.

Most appearances

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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
Jacques Tuyisenge 59 16 2011–2022
10 Jean-Claude Ndoli 50 0 2005–2014

Top goalscorers

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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
Muhadjiri Hakizimana 7 35 0.2 2016–present

Competition records

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FIFA World Cup

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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
  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
Total 0/11 48 10 11 27 44 64

CECAFA Cup

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Main article: CECAFA Cup

Honours

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Regional

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 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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