Rwanda national football team

History

Rwanda qualified for its first ever Africa Cup of Nations in the 2004 edition. 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. 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.

On 3 November 2007, Josip Kuže was appointed as head coach of Rwanda on a three-year deal, but left just two months later to manage Japanese club JEF United Chiba, having managed just six matches. Raoul Shungu was appointed as interim manager on 11 April 2008, with Branko Tucak appointed on a permanent basis just over two months later. After Rwanda finished bottom of their group in the third round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Tucak was sacked in November 2009, with Eric Nshimiyimana appointed as his replacement on an interim basis. In February 2010, Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh was appointed as the new national team manager. Under Tetteh, Rwanda qualified for the 2011 African Nations Championship, but finished bottom of their group after losing all three group stage matches. Tetteh resigned in September 2011.

Milutin Sredojević was appointed as Rwanda manager in November 2011, though he was sacked in April 2013. Nshimiyimana was reappointed to succeed Sredojević, though he was replaced by Stephen Constantine in May 2014. Under Constantine, Rwanda appeared to qualify for the group stage of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but were disqualified after fielding an ineligible player in a match against Congo. Constantine resigned from his role in January 2015 however, in order to manage the India national team.

Rwanda Football Federation technical director Lee Johnson became interim manager before Johnathan McKinstry was appointed as Constantine's replacement in March 2015, with Johnson leaving his role as technical director to become Constantine's assistant manager in India shortly after. In his first competitive game in charge, McKinstry guided Rwanda to their first away win in four years with a 1–0 victory over Mozambique in the opening round of 2017 African Nations Cup qualifying. In December 2015, Rwanda finished as runners-up in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup 2015, having lost 1–0 to Uganda in the final. In January 2016, Rwanda reached the knock-out stages of a major competition for the first time in their history after topping their group at the 2016 African Nations Championship. Rwanda did however lose to eventual champions, DR Congo, 2–1 after extra time in the quarter-final. In March 2016 McKinstry agreed a new two-year contract, though he was sacked just five months later, with Jimmy Mulisa appointed on an interim basis. The Rwanda Football Federation were later ordered by FIFA to compensate McKinstry $200,000 for unlawful dismissal, and though the Rwandan FA initially appealed this ruling, they later complied.

In November 2023, Torsten Spittler was appointed as head coach, though he was relieved of his duties in January 2025. Adel Amrouche was appointed in his place in March 2025.

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. 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. 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).

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.

2024

• Chukwueze
• Mutsinzi
• Nshuti

2025

• Osimhen Report (CAF) Report (CAF)
• Belaïli
• Hadjam
• Boulbina
• Khacef
• Arokodare
• Mugisha
• Aiyegun
• Mbatha
• Appollis
• Makgopa

2026

Coaching history

:Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• FRG Otto Pfister (1972–76)
• TUR Metin Türel (1991)
• RWA Longin Rudasingwa (1998-1999)
• GER Rudi Gutendorf (1999–00)
• RWA Longin Rudasingwa (2000–01)
• SCG Ratomir Dujković (2001–04)
• SWE Roger Palmgren (2004–05)
• GER Michael Nees (2006–07)
• CRO Josip Kuže (2007–08)
• DRC Raoul Shungu (2008)
• CRO Branko Tucak (2008–09)
• RWA Eric Nshimiyimana (2009–10)
• GHA Sellas Tetteh (2010–11)
• SER Milutin Sredojević (2011–13)
• RWA Eric Nshimiyimana (2013–14)
• ENG Stephen Constantine (2014–2015)
• ENG Lee Johnson (2015)
• NIR Johnny McKinstry (2015–16)
• RWA Gilbert Kanyankore (2016)
• RWA Jimmy Mulisa (2016)
• GER Antoine Hey (2017–2018)
• RWA Vincent Mashami (2018–2022)
• ESP Carlos Alós (2022–2023)
• FRA Gerard Buscher (2023)
• GER Torsten Spittler (2023–2025)
• ALG Adel Amrouche (2025–)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group C matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe on 6 and 9 September 2025.

:Caps and goals correct as of 5 June 2025, after the match against Algeria.

Recent call-ups

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

• 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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Competition records

FIFA World Cup

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Rwanda at the Africa Cup of Nations

African Nations Championship

CECAFA Cup

Main article: CECAFA Cup

Honours

Regional

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

References

References

1. (28 January 2004). "Rwanda's football mercenaries". BBC.
2. (28 January 2004). "Rwanda snatch dramatic point". BBC.
3. (31 January 2004). "Rwanda dumped out". BBC.
4. (November 3, 2007). "Kuze appointed Rwanda coach". BBC Sport.
5. (January 9, 2008). "Croatian coach Kuze quits Rwanda". BBC Sport.
6. (April 11, 2008). "Shungu takes charge of Rwanda". BBC Sport.
7. (April 27, 2008). "Tucak appointed Rwanda coach". BBC Sport.
8. (November 24, 2009). "Rwanda sack Croatian coach Tucak". BBC Sport.
9. (February 18, 2010). "Rwanda seal Tetteh coaching deal". BBC Sport.
10. (7 June 2010). "Sellas Tetteh qualifies Rwanda to CHAN tourney".
11. "African Nations Championship 2011".
12. (September 6, 2011). "Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh steps down as coach of Rwanda". BBC Sport.
13. (November 1, 2011). "Milutin Sredojevic appointed Rwanda coach". BBC Sport.
14. (2013-04-17). "Rwanda part company with coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic". BBC Sport.
15. Yahyaoui, Houssem. (2013-04-22). "Rwanda: Eric Nshimiyimana, new coach! - Africa Top Sports".
16. (2014-05-14). "Stephen Constantine appointed Rwanda coach". BBC Sport.
17. Crocker, Sam. (2014-10-09). "Stephen Constantine: I’m quite happy to do the jobs that nobody else wants". The Guardian.
18. (2015-01-15). "Constantine resigns from Amavubi".
19. (2015-03-20). "Rwanda name 29-year-old McKinstry coach".
20. (2015-04-14). "Lee Johnson resigns, to join Constantine in India".
21. Komugisha, Usher. (15 June 2015). "Rwanda/Mozambique: Country Ends Four-Year Away Jinx in Afcon Qualifiers". The New Times (Kigali).
22. (5 December 2015). "Uganda wins record 14th CECAFA title". The New Times {{!}} Rwanda.
23. "FERWAFA -Rwanda settle for second spot in Cecafa Challenge Cup".
24. (23 January 2016). "Amavubi seek to top Group A unbeaten". The New Times {{!}} Rwanda.
25. "Rwanda top Chan Group A".
26. (2016). "CHAN 2016: DR Congo beat Rwanda 2–1 in extra-time". BBC Sport.
27. "McKinstry extends Rwanda contract".
28. (2016-08-19). "Johnny Mckinstry 'surprised' after his sacking as Rwanda coach". BBC Sport.
29. (2018-05-08). "Rwanda files appeal to Fifa over McKinstry ruling". BBC Sport.
30. (2019-04-27). "McKinstry Welcomes Rwanda’s Move to Compensate Contract Breach".
31. Abayisenga, Eddy. (2023-11-01). "Torsten Spittler Appointed New Amavubi Coach".
32. Gyimah, Edmund Okai. (2025-01-23). "Spittler’s departure: How Amavubi may be affected".
33. Kariuki, Erick. (2025-03-03). "Adel Amrouche appointed Rwanda national team Head Coach".
34. (14 December 2011). "Rwanda football shirt 1994 – 1996". oldfootballshirts.com.
35. "Member Association – Rwanda". FIFA.
36. (29 September 2010). "Rwanda football Boss Rallies The Wasps Ahead Of Benin Clash - Goal.com". Goal.
37. (2 February 2013). "Rwanda's Amavumbi Stars invite Uganda Cranes on Feb 6th". starafrica.com.
38. (26 August 2025). "Provisional Amavubi List For The 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers vs Nigeria & Zimbabwe".
39. "Rwanda".