Basketball: Foreign-based players jet in ahead of World Cup qualifiers

The men’s national basketball team on Wednesday, November 5, began a residential training camp in preparation for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Tunisia from November 27-30. Several foreign-based players have already arrived in the country, including the US-based duo of Prince Tokoza Twa and Trey Sinze Twa, as well as Australia-based Kenny Manzi. APR’s Bruno Shema has also joined the camp. ALSO READ: FIBA World Cup qualifiers: Rwanda drawn in same group as Nigeria, Tunisia The team is led by interim head coach Yves Murenzi. He will be assisted by three former national team stars: Kenny Gasana, Aristide Mugabe, and Sunny Niyomugabo. The players are residing at Delight Hotel and will be conducting daily training sessions at Petit Stade. Rwanda has been drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Guinea, and Tunisia. The national team earned a spot in the qualifiers as one of the 16 teams that participated in AfroBasket 2025, held in Angola from August 12–24. The squad includes some new faces, notably David Joseph McCormack, a 26-year-old American forward who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. A former standout at the University of Kansas, McCormack was part of the Jayhawks team that won the 2022 NCAA National Championship. ALSO READ: Murenzi to coach Rwanda at FIBA World Cup qualifiers About the qualifiers The FIBA World Cup African Qualifiers will feature four groups of four teams. Each nation will play six games, facing every opponent twice across two tournaments. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Second Round, where results from the first phase will carry over, making every game crucial. In the second round, teams will again play six games against opponents they have not yet faced. Ultimately, the two best-placed teams in each group, along with the best third-placed team, will qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. Overall, 16 teams will compete across five qualification windows, with five nations advancing to the World Cup. ALSO READ: National team interim coach Murenzi talks new role In a recent interview with Times Sport, interim head coach Murenzi, who took over in September following the departure of Cheikh Sarr, emphasized the importance of a strong start in Tunisia. “It’s crucial that we perform well this November because the results will also count in the next window,” Murenzi explained. “To qualify, we need to start strong and aim for as many wins as possible.” The 43-year-old tactician said the team’s goal is to secure at least two or three victories in the first window. “If we can’t get three wins, we should at least get two to make things easier for the next window,” he noted. “The July window will be tougher because all leagues will be on break, and the top players will be available for their national teams.” Provisional Squad Kenny Manzi, David Mutabazi, Brillant Brave Izere Rutsindura, Dick Rutatika Sano, David McCormack, Paul Bizimana, Prince Tokoza Twa, Steven Hagumintwari, Trey Sinze Twa, Prince Muhizi, William Robeyns, Cadeau de Dieu Furaha, Bruno Shema, Ntore Habimana, Dylan Kayijuka, Jean-Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Dieudonné Ndayisaba Ndizeye, and Chandelier Twizeyimama Cyiza.

Sports

Basketball: Foreign-based players jet in ahead of World Cup qualifiers