The Bayern Munich Academy Rwanda leads with the highest number of players selected to Rwanda U17 squad that traveled to Ethiopia on Monday, November 10, for the upcoming CECAFA U17. The tournament, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON U17), will run from November 15 to December 2 at Abebe Bikila Stadium in in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Stadium. Sosthene Habimana’s U17 team was pooled in Group A alongside hosts Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. FC Bayern Munich Academy has nine representatives while Tony Academy, Umuri Foundation, owned by former Rwanda international Jimmy Mulisa, and Gasogi United have three players each in the squad. ALSO READ: What does it take to join Bayern Munich Academy Rwanda? The local football governing body also invited foreign-based players to join the squad including Judah Fisher of Sacramento Republic in the United States, Lanny Mukiza of CS LaSalle in Canada, Joseph Musabyimana of RFC Seraing, Enzo Bagabo of RWDM and Jayden Heylen Shema of KV Mechelen, who play in Belgium. Group A will be playing at the Abebe Bikila Stadium while Group B, which features defending champions Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, Sudan and Burundi will be based at Dire Dawa Stadium. The best two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The champions and the first and second runners-up will qualify to represent the CECAFA Zone at the AFCON U17 2026. Traveling squad: Goalkeepers: Don Divin Irakaza, Jacques Habimana and Prince Gedeon Inezaye. Defenders: Lanny Cyusa Mukiza, Khalifa Shyaka, Judah Fisher Anderson, Pacifique Niyompano, Emmanuel Gisubizo, Fred Ishimwe and Muhudi Niyonzima. Midfielders: Gustave Karibu, Patrick Gisubizo, Norbert Micomyiza, Sharif Ntwali, Jean Claude Dushime and Joseph Musabyimana. Forwards: Elysee Kwihangana, Patrick Iradukunda, Olivier Nshimiyimana, Daniel Mugunga, Enzo Bagabo, Bienfeteur Remy Uwizeye, Didier Umugiraneza Bizimana and Jayden Heylen Shema.
