Rwanda national football team

Rwanda
Nickname(s)Amavubi (The Wasps)
AssociationRwanda Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCECAFA (East Africa)
Head coachCarlos Alós[1]
CaptainHaruna Niyonzima
Most capsHaruna Niyonzima (110)
Top scorerOlivier Karekezi (24)
Home stadiumStade Amahoro, Nyamirambo Regional Stadium
FIFA codeRWA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 137 (22 December 2022)[2]
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
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.

History

Rwanda qualified for its first 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]

Recent results

2022
3 January Friendly Rwanda  3–0  Guinea Kigali, Rwanda
16:00 UTC+2 Hakizimana 22'
Usengimana 47'
Muhozi 72'		 Report (FERWAFA) Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Georges Gatogato (Burundi)
6 January Friendly Rwanda  0–2  Guinea Kigali, Rwanda
16:00 UTC+2 Report Bayo 27'
N. Keïta 35'		 Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Georges Gatogato (Burundi)
2 June 2023 AFCON qualification Mozambique  1–1  Rwanda Johannesburg, South Africa
18:00
Report
  • Nishimwe 65'
 Stadium: FNB Stadium
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
7 June 2023 AFCON qualification Rwanda  0–1  Senegal Dakar, Senegal
21:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Diamniadio Olympic Stadium
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala (Congo DR)
17 November Friendly Rwanda  0–0  Sudan
14:00 UTC+3
19 November Friendly Rwanda  1–0  Sudan

2023
March 2023 AFCON qualification Rwanda  v  Mozambique
March 2023 AFCON qualification Senegal  v  Rwanda
September 2023 AFCON qualification Benin  v  Rwanda Benin
--:-- UTC+1 Report
September 2023 AFCON qualification Rwanda  v  Benin Senegal
--:-- UTC+2 Report

Coaching history
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad
  • The following players were called up for the friendly matches.[11]
  • Match dates: 17 and 19 November 2022
  • Opposition:  Sudan
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 7 June 2022, after the match against  Senegal.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ntwari Fiacre (1999-09-25) 25 September 1999 2 0 AS Kigali
1GK Pierre Ishimwe (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 1 0 APR
2DF Emmanuel Imanishimwe (1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 34 0 FAR Rabat
2DF Thierry Manzi (1996-07-12) 12 July 1996 34 3 Unattached
2DF Ange Mutsinzi (1997-11-15) 15 November 1997 12 0 Trofense
2DF Clément Niyigena (2001-02-17) 17 February 2001 1 0 APR
2DF Claude Niyomugabo (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 1 0 APR
2DF Aimable Nsabimana (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 6 0 Kiyovu Sports
2DF Fitina Omborenga (1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 54 1 APR
2DF Ali Serumogo (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 5 0 Kiyovu Sports
3MF Djihad Bizimana (1996-12-12) 12 December 1996 44 1 Deinze
3MF Gilbert Ishimwe (2000-10-10) 10 October 2000 0 0 Örebro Syrianska
3MF Kevin Muhire (1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 24 0 Rayon Sports
3MF Ally Niyonzima (1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 11 0 Bumamuru Standard
3MF York Rafael (1999-03-17) 17 March 1999 5 0 AFC Eskilstuna
3MF Steve Rubanguka (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 3 0 Zimbru Chișinău
3MF Hakim Sahabo (2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 0 0 Lille
4FW Gerard Gohou (1988-12-29) 29 December 1988 0 0 Aktobe
4FW Glen Habimana (2001-11-13) 13 November 2001 0 0 Victoria Rosport
4FW Muhadjiri Hakizimana (1994-08-13) 13 August 1994 30 7 AS Kigali
4FW Dominique Savio Nshuti (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 34 3 Police

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 Olivier Kwizera (1995-07-30) 30 July 1995 20 0 Al-Kawkab v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
GK Yves Kimenyi (1992-10-13) 13 October 1992 13 0 Kiyovu Sports v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
GK Adolphe Hakizimana (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 1 0 Rayon Sports v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
DF Salomon Nirisarike (1993-11-23) 23 November 1993 35 0 Free agent v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
DF Prince Buregeya (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 1 0 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
DF Christian Ishimwe (1999-02-01) 1 February 1999 1 0 AS Kigali v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
DF Thierry Ndayishimiye (1995-03-10) 10 March 1995 0 0 Kiyovu Sports v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
DF Faustin Usengimana (1993-11-06) 6 November 1993 33 0 Police v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
DF Eric Rutanga (1992-11-03) 3 November 1992 18 1 Police v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
DF Eric Ngendahimana (1989-12-01) 1 December 1989 1 0 Kiyovu Sports v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
DF Marc Nkubana 0 0 Gasogi United v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
MF Djabel Manishimwe (1998-05-10) 10 May 1998 16 0 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
MF Blaise Nishimwe (1998-01-08) 8 January 1998 8 1 Rayon Sports v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
MF Jean Bosco Ruboneka (1999-01-01) 1 January 1999 6 0 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
MF Bonheur Mugisha (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 2 0 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
MF Janvier Benedata (1995-08-12) 12 August 1995 2 0 Kiyovu Sports v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
MF René Assouman Joeffrey (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 1 0 Hillerød IF v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
FW Meddie Kagere (1986-10-10) 10 October 1986 55 15 Singida United v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
FW Danny Usengimana (1996-03-10) 10 March 1996 15 1 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
FW Lague Byiringiro (2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 9 1 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
FW Yves Mugunga (1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 5 1 APR v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
FW Dominique Ndayishimiye (1996-07-20) 20 July 1996 1 0 Police v.  Senegal, 7 June 2022
FW Ernest Sugira (1991-03-27) 27 March 1991 36 12 AS Kigali v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
FW Fred Muhozi (1999-04-11) 11 April 1999 2 1 Espoir FC v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022
FW Cédric Mugenzi 0 0 Kiyovu Sports v.  Guinea; 6 January 2022

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 7 June 2022[12]
Players in bold are still active with Rwanda.

Competition records

FIFA World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1962 Part of  Belgium Part of  Belgium
1966 to 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 8215129
2026 to be determined to be determined
Total 0/22 44 8 10 26 41 63

CECAFA Cup record
Main article: CECAFA Cup

Honours

See also

References
  1. "Rwanda national team: Vincent Mashami named as new coach of Amavubi". BBC Sport. 18 August 2018.
  2. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  3. "Rwanda's football mercenaries". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  4. "Rwanda snatch dramatic point". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  5. "Rwanda dumped out". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  6. "Rwanda football shirt 1994 – 1996". oldfootballshirts.com. 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. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  9. "Rwanda's Amavumbi Stars invite Uganda Cranes on Feb 6th". starafrica.com. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  10. Sikubwabo, Damas (29 March 2022). "Carlos Alos Ferrer is new Amavubi head coach". The New Times.
  11. "Amavubi Stars head coach Carlos Alós Ferrer names 25-man squad for Sudan friendlies due on 17th and 19th November at Kigali Stadium". Rwanda FA - Twitter. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  12. "Rwanda". National Football Teams.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rwanda national football team.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.