Rwanda head coach Torsten Spittler has heaped praise on his team for their impressive performance since he took over in November 2023. Amavubi defeated Madagascar 2-0 at Antananarivo on Monday, March 25 in a FIFA international friendly match to extend the team’s unbeaten run to four games under his reign. Spittler’s side was recognized by the Madagascan FA as the best performing team during the friendlies after coming out on top with four points, a point ahead of home side Madagascar while Botswana and Burundi finished third and fourth with one point apiece. After Monday’s victory, the German could only take positives from the team’s current transformation. I told the players that Madagascar are above us on the FIFA rankings, so we had to prove that beating South Africa was no fluke or a one-day situation. I promised the players after the last match that the next game would be better as we have had much time together and the team would become better. I am happy of our progress, Spittler told the press. ALSO READ: Amavubi beat Madagascar in Antananarivo Concerning the game, Spittler admits that his players struggled with the turf conditions because they are not used to natural grass. I am very happy we won, at the beginning, it was difficult because we had to adapt to the field. We are not used to playing on natural grass and it is a very difficult ground but then, after 20-30 minutes, we got used to it and we got better and better. Madagascar is a strong team, we gave a good fight and we had good chances, we were again defending very well. The support from Rwandans is very good, they should continue and we can go in the right direction. The experienced German gaffer further praised the entire team, especially Hakim Sahabo and goalkeeper Maxime Kali Wenssens, for their massive contribution in the starting lineup. Hakim had a great game especially for a young player like him. All the players did well and I am very happy and we deserve to win. Our new goalkeeper Maxime also did excellently well, he added. Rwanda's next major assignment will be in June when they visit Benin and Lesotho on June 3 and June 10 respectively, in their Group C Game Three and Four of the 2026 World Cup Africa qualifiers which they top with four points from two games.
