Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine has admitted that Rwanda face a difficult challenge in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers but insists home advantage could play a decisive role in the country’s push for qualification. The draw, held in Cairo on Tuesday, May 19, placed Rwanda in Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia. ALSO READ: AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Rwanda drawn against Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia Reacting to the draw, Constantine acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, noting that Rwanda had been grouped with two of Africa’s highest-ranked sides. “I think it’s a tough group. We’ve drawn two teams in the top 15 — Cape Verde and Mali — and Liberia will also be a difficult opponent,” he said. “The most important thing is that we have to win our home games, and then we’ll see what happens away from home.” The English tactician stressed that competing against strong opposition is part of Rwanda’s growth as a football nation. “It’s a tough challenge, but that’s why we want to be in this tournament — to face good teams. We’ll have six very competitive matches,” he noted. The qualifiers are scheduled to begin in September, while the tournament itself will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in the summer of next year. Constantine was particularly confident about Rwanda’s chances at home, describing Kigali as a difficult venue for visiting teams. “No team will beat us in Kigali,” he said, issuing a strong message to both supporters and opponents. Asked about Rwanda’s chances of reaching the continental finals — having qualified only once before in 2004 — Constantine remained optimistic. “Anything is possible. First and foremost, we must win our home games. If the players show the same dedication, resilience and energy they displayed in the last two matches, then we can compete,” he said. The coach also spoke passionately about representing the national team. “Playing for your national team is the best feeling. Everyone — including myself — will give everything for Amavubi,” he added. When asked whether Group K could be considered a “group of death,” Constantine embraced the challenge. “It is a difficult group, but if you want to compete at the highest level, you must play against strong teams. We have two of the best teams in Africa in our group. “This is football. We’ll take it one game at a time. We have no other choice.” Looking ahead, Constantine revealed plans for preparatory friendlies in Morocco ahead of the qualifiers despite a limited preparation window. “The league will end on May 30, and the FIFA window begins two days later. We’ll go to Morocco with only two to four days to prepare. “We’ll play Tanzania on June 6 and Comoros on June 9,” he revealed. Addressing growing public expectations following Rwanda’s recent performances, Constantine urged fans to remain patient as the team continues rebuilding. “I would tell Rwandans to be patient. We are building a team. The last two years haven’t been good in terms of results. The FIFA Series is behind us now,” he said. He added: “The Morocco games will help us, and then in September we start the real task of chasing AFCON qualification. There are no easy games in football. You must compete, you must win, and sometimes you must be lucky.” According to the latest FIFA rankings, Rwanda ranks 128th, while Group K rivals Mali sits 52nd, Cape Verde 69th, and Liberia 140th. The latter is currently under the tutelage of former APR coach Adil Erradi Muhamed.
