Rwanda begin their road to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Women’s AFCON 2026) on Friday, February 21, when they welcome the Cleopatras of Egypt to Kigali Pele Stadium in the first of the first qualifying round. The game promises to be an exciting one as both teams are hoping to make it to the next phase of the qualifiers where Ghana awaits. Rwanda is currently under a new coach in the shape of experienced Andre Casa Mbungo who is having his first coaching adventure in women’s football. Mbungo admits knows little information about Egypt women’s football but he believes the first quarter of an hour will be enough for him to analyze their playing style and take concrete decisions. I didn’t see the videos of Egypt. We tried to look for them and even asked for some people to help us find the videos but we failed to get them, even those we got are not very clear. But what I can say is that they are a sporting nation,” Mbungo told the press. “Egypt is a country that prepares its players and coaches well from the lower level, be it men or women. For them, sports is a culture, they are not like us.” I will try to analyse their team in the first fifteen minutes of the game and know how their team players and take decisions in regards to how they play, he added. ALSO READ: Women AFCON 2026: Mukandayisenga ruled out of Egypt qualifier The Egyptians play as a unit and the telepathy is already there. One crucial advantage is that they have seven players in Yassmin Mohammed, Hola Mustafa, Mahira Ali, Tarek Ahed, Nour Abdelwahed, Amira Mohammed, and Habiba Emad who play for FC Maser in the Egyptian women’s top tier league. They know themselves well and they form the core of the team. Rwanda will rely on goalkeeper Angeline Ndakimana, who is also the captain of the national team. She has been in top form in the domestic league and will be aiming to reciprocate that form in the Women’s AFCON Qualifiers. The likes of Zawadi Usanase, Emerance Niyonshuti, and Gloria Sifa are all top players who can decide the game with one moment of brilliance. With home advantage, Rwanda starts as favourite but they should eschew complacency and play according to instructions if they are to pick the needed win.
