Amavubi captain Djihad Bizimana believes that hard work, teamwork, and confidence will be key as Amavubi prepare to face Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Group C match will take place at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, October 10, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. Rwanda currently sit fourth in the group with 11 points, level with third-placed Nigeria but behind on goal difference. Bizimana sees the upcoming match as an opportunity to close the gap. “We’re fully focused on this game. If we can win and wait for the final day, that would be good. We need to make the most of our home advantage,” he noted. “It’s a tough match, but I’m confident we can beat them, we have done it before. What we need is belief in our ability to compete.” The defensive midfielder added, “We are playing at home, so we don’t have to fear them. As players, we must be ready. This is a big moment for us.” In a squad update, Marines striker Taiba Mbonyumwami received a late call-up to replace the injured Mickels Lance. He joins the team as they prepare for crucial matches against Benin and South Africa. A win against Benin would take Amavubi to 14 points, putting them in strong contention alongside South Africa and Benin, both of whom are also vying for qualification. South Africa face Zimbabwe, while Nigeria take on Lesotho. Rwanda will host Benin on October 10 at Amahoro Stadium, before traveling to South Africa on October 14 for their final qualifier. The outcome of the matches will determine which team secures a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Four teams in Group C remain in contention for qualification, with the race open following FIFA’s decision to dock South Africa three points for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho.
