Rwanda’s national handball team head coach Hafedh Zouabi has dropped 10 players from his provisional squad preparing for the 2026 African Men's Handball Championship which will take place in Kigali from January 21-31, 2026. The Tunisian tactician initially called up a 30-man squad in October for the first phase of the training camp, which ran until November 5. After assessing performances during this period, he has now trimmed the group to 20 players, who will proceed to the second phase of training. ALSO READ: Tunisian Zouabi named Rwanda's national handball team coach Among the players released from the provisional squad are goalkeepers Kevin Cyiza (ADEGI Gituza) and Élysée Ikuzwe (Mutenderi TSS). The coach also dropped Albert Musoni (APR), Jean-Paul Muhawenayo (APR), Clément Niyonkuru (Musanze HC), Gilbert Mutuyimana (Police HC), Viateur Rwamanywa (APR), Aimable Rutikanga (GS Tabagwe), Jean Damascène Bazimaziki (Gicumbi HT) and Yannick Karenzi (Gicumbi HT). The remaining 20 players will move on to the second phase of the training camp, which is set to take place from November 26 to December 6. ALSO READ: Handball: Rwanda U20 wins bronze at Intercontinental IHF tourney They include Jackson Uwimana (APR), Arsène Uwayezu (APR), Peter Kwisanga (Police), Musa Ufitinema (GS Tabagwe), Yves Kayijamahe (Police), Moïse Uwase (APR), Alexis Nshimiyimana (APR), James Ndatimana (GS Tabagwe) and Samuel Mbesutunguwe (Police). Others are Élysée Muhumure (APR), Emmanuel Kubwimana (Police), Karim Niyonkuru (Police), Jean Pierre Ndayishimiye (APR HC), Dieudonné Habumugisha (GS Tabagwe), Maliyamungu Shumbusho (APR), Étienne Ndayisaba (Police) and André Akayezu (Police), Fidèle Hagenimana (Police), Thierry Ineza (Police) and Vedaste Niyoyita (APR HC). Rwanda is in Group A alongside Zambia, Nigeria, and Algeria.
