Amavubi head coach Frank Spittler Torsten has dropped 13 players from the squad that is set to play friendly matches against Madagascar and Botswana in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifier games. Rwanda will face Madagascar and Botswana in friendly games on March 22 and March 25 respectively. The team flew out of the country on Monday, March 18 morning for the first match that will take place in Antananarivo, the Capital of Madagascar. ALSO READ: 2026 WC Qualifiers: Nshuti and Mugisha fire Rwanda past South Africa The squad that travelled comprises 19 players since coach Spittler dropped 12 players from the initially summoned squad. Before flying out, Amavubi spent days in intensive training in Nyamirambo, Kigali and Bugesera District, Eastern Province. He players whowere dropped include Patrick Sibomana of Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Claude Niyomugabo and Jean Bosco Ruboneka (APR FC), Adolphe Hakizimana, Jean Bosco Akayezu (AS Kigali), Bienvenu Mugenzi (Police FC), Hakim Bugingo (Rayon Sports) and Siméon Iradukunda (Gorilla FC). ALSO READ: Steve Rubanguka: Cyprus-based player rearing to be the ace of Amavubi midfield The others who were dropped are Radhaman Niyibizi and Alain 'Bacca' Kwitonda of APR FC, Roger Kanamugire and Aimable Nsabimana of Rayon Sports as well as Samuel Nsengiyumva of Gorilla FC. The squad that travelled to Antananarivo mainly comprises locally-based players. Their foreign-based counterparts are expected to link up with them in the island nation. These include Djihad Bizimana, Innocent Nshuti, Lague Byiringiro, Hakim Sahabo, Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Wenseens Maxime. ALSO READ: Karekezi warns Amavubi despite bright start to WC qualifiers Rwanda will take advantage of the two friendly matches to prepare for the third and fourth day of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers where the team will be up against Benin and Lesotho in June. So far, Rwanda has played two games in the qualifiers and leads Group C with four points, followed by South Africa with three points. Nigeria, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Benin take the remaining places respectively.
