Rwanda head coach Adel Amrouche has left Claude Smith Kayibanda, Djabilu Ishimwe and David Niyo out of his 24-man final squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Amrouche departed Kigali International Airport for Lagos on Tuesday morning, September 2, with a group of 20 players where they will meet Phanuel Kavita, Bonheur Mugisha, Jojea Kwizera and Clement Twizere Buhake before heading straight to Uyo State. The team will be training in Uyo before their crunch tie against the Super Eagles on Saturday, September 6. This will be followed by Match Eight fixture where Amavubi visit Zimbabwe in South Africa on September 9. Kayibanda was dropped from the squad after he suffered an injury last weekend, when his team Bedford FC lost 2-1 to South Shields. Rwanda sit second in the group with eight points and are level on points with Benin, with the Nigeria in fourth place on seven points. Lesotho have six points, while Zimbabwe are at the bottom of the table with four points. The Match Day 7 encounter between Super Eagles and Rwanda will be important as thwe two countries are both well adrift of group leaders South Africa who have 13 points (prior to FIFA’s decision on their alleged use of an ineligible player in the win over Lesotho in March).
