Rwanda national team coach Adel Amrouche has unveiled his 28-man provisional squad for this month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Lesotho, respectively, Afrosport reports.
Amrouche, who was named head of the Amavubi earlier this month, has gone for a mix of both experience and youth as well as foreign-based and home-based stars.
The 57-year-old Algerian has invited four goalkeepers, eight defenders, nine midfielders, and seven forwards.
The list includes Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, defenders Fitina Omborenga and Jean Gilbert Byiringiro, midfielders Djihad Bizimana and Jojea Kwizera, and forwards Innocent Nshuti and Djabel Manishimwe.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR MATCH 5&6 OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS#TuriAmavubi
— Rwanda FA (@FERWAFA) March 15, 2025
Rwanda sits atop a tough Group C with seven points from their opening four games thanks to a better goal difference than South Africa and Benin, who both also have seven points.
The Amavubi, meanwhile, will host the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Amahoro Stadium on Friday, 21 March, in a crucial matchday five clash before hosting Lesotho at the same venue four days later.
Rwanda recently got four points from the Super Eagles in the qualifying rounds for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having played out a goalless draw in Kigali and secured a 2-1 win in Uyo.
The Amavubi also edged the Crocodiles of Lesotho 1-0 in their previous group meeting in the World Cup qualifiers, with Kwizera scoring the only goal at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in June 2024.
Full 28-man Rwanda provisional squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Ntwari Fiacre (Kaizer Chiefs), Buhake Clement Twizere (Ull/Kisa), Maxime Wenssens, Pierre Ishimwe (APR)
Defenders: Omborenga Fitina (Rayon Sports), Byiringiro Jean Gilbert (APR), Claude Niyomugabo (APR), Bugingo Hakim (Rayon Sports), Mutsinzi Ance (Zira), Thierry Manzi (Al Ahli Tripoli), Niyigena Clement (APR),Yunusu Nshimiyimana (APR)
Midfielders: Bizimana Djihad (Al Ahli Tripoli), Ruboneka Jean Bosco (APR), Bonheur Mugisha (Stade Tunisen), Steve Rubanguka (Al-Nojoom), Kwizera Jojea (Rhode Island), Mugisha Gilbert (APR), Iraguha Hadji (Rayon Sports), Kevin Muhire (Rayon Sports), Gueulette Samuel Leopold (La Louvière)
Fowards: Innocent Nshuti (Sabail FK), Didier Mugisha (Police FC), Yves Habimana (Rutsiro), Rafael York (Zed FC), Djabel Manishimwe (Naftal Wassat), Hakim Sahabo (Beerschot), Anicet Ishimwe (Olympique Beja)
