It has been a rollercoaster for the 2023 calendar year during which Rwandan football was shaped by highs and lows. The football fraternity witnessed some memorable events which brought joy to the whole nation, but the past twelve months also left holes that the football sector will need to fill going into 2024. Weekend Sport looks at the major highlights that shaped Rwandan football in 2023 as the year gets to its twilight. Amavubi wins first game in over two years Rwanda has labored on the international front since defeating Mozambique 1-0 on March 24, 2021, in an AFCON qualifier. Amavubi had since gone two years and eight months without a win. The abysmal output remained until Frank Spittler brought it to an end in November, stunning two-time FIFA World Cup participants South Africa 2-0 in a 2026 World Cup Group B qualifying game held at Huye Stadium. Rwanda duly mesmerized the Rainbow nation as goals from Innocent Nshuti and Gilbert Mugisha propelled the Amavubi to victory. The whole nation went into a frenzy mood as the team moved to the top of the table in Group B which also features African giants Nigeria. Bayern Munich Academy age fixing saga Twenty young football talents in September had their dreams of being enrolled at the Bayern Munich Academy Rwanda spoiled after they were snubbed for selection over age fixing. Their disqualification came after the Ministry of Sports and football governing body (FERWAFA) discovered discrepancies in their ages. It was later found out that their birth dates had been allegedly fixed in an incident which was followed by a series of arrests of officials and individuals involved in the age fixing malpractices. Names such as Aristide Karorero, Leon Nisunzumuremyi, and Marie Rose Rugendohurohire are facing trial for their involvement in the criminal act. ALSO READ: Gatete's homecoming and major highlights that shaped Rwandan football in 2022 Massive resignations at FERWAFA It was not rouse at Rwandan football governing body (FERWAFA) as there were massive resignations. Former president Olivier Nizeyimana resigned from duty on April 23 citing “lots of work” and personal reasons for his exit. He left just a year before his terms expired. He was followed by then FA Secretary-General Henry Muhire who had been who had been at the centre of the controversial Masita kit deal that could have cost FERWAFA over Rwf2 billion after signing the deal without his boss’s consent. More members resigned and a new executive committee was elected in June leaving Alphonse Munyantwali take office as President. The former provincial governor won the elections unopposed with 50 out of the 56 votes. Marcel Matiku Habyarimana was also re-elected as the first vice president in charge Administration and Finance while Vice President in charge of Technical Development went to Richard Mugisha. Adolphe Kalisa was also appointed as the new Secretary General of FERWAFA on August 8. ALSO READ: 2026 WC Qualifiers: Nshuti and Mugisha fire Rwanda past South Africa Rwandan clubs struggle again in Africa Bringing back foreign players didn’t stop APR FC from surviving their abysmal performance in African club competitions following their premature elimination from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Pyramids FC. For Rayon Sports, they were exempted from the first qualifying round in the CAF Confederation Cup. They inadvertently benefited in the second qualifying stage as their opponent Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya agreed that both legs should be played in Kigali. The Blues failed to utilize the home advantage as they lost on penalties and failed to progress to the Group stage after both legs had ended in draw. APR lift league title on goal difference It was once again a close contest in the 2022/23 Rwanda Primus National League as APR won the title on goal difference, surviving serious competition from recent serial title rivals Kiyovu SC after both teams were tied on 63 points. It was the second year in a row that the two teams’s race to the title had gone to the wire. Kiyovu had led the table until week 29 when they lost 1-0 to Sunrise FC at Nyagatare Stadium in a game during which they missed a crucial late penalty. The defeat allowed APR to overtake them and went on to win the title for the fourth time in a row. The unprecedented shock prompted Kiyovu SC management to part ways with their entire technical team as well as eleven key players.
