FC Groningen midfielder Noam Emeran has expressed his excitement after earning his first senior call-up to the Rwanda national football team, saying he is joining the squad with “immense pride and great emotion.” Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine included the 23-year-old to his 24-man squad for upcoming international friendlies against Comoros and Tanzania. The matches, scheduled for June 6 and June 9 in Marrakech, Morocco, will serve as part of Rwanda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September. ALSO READ: Noam Emeran earns debut Rwanda call-ups for Comoros, TZ friendlies Rwanda were drawn in Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Liberia. Emeran, the son of former Rwanda international Fritz Emeran Nkusi, has finally agreed to represent Amavubi after several attempts by the Rwanda Football Federation to convince him to join the national team setup since his days at Manchester United. Reacting to his maiden call-up, Emeran shared an emotional message about representing Rwanda. “It is with immense pride and great emotion that I join the Rwandan national team,” he said. “Representing my country is a true honour and the beginning of a new chapter that we will write together with passion, hard work and unity.” The 23-year-old is among the standout additions in Constantine’s squad as Rwanda continue expanding their talent pool ahead of future competitive fixtures. Emeran developed through Manchester United’s academy before joining FC Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he currently plays. His arrival is expected to add creativity, depth and technical quality to Rwanda’s midfield as Amavubi use the international window to fine-tune preparations for the upcoming AFCON qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Constantine’s squad has also been affected by injuries. Defender Thierry Manzi and forwards Joy-Lance Mickels and Leroy Jacques Mickels have all been ruled out. Midfielder Hakim Sahabo of AEK Athens is another notable absentee after struggling for regular playing time in Greece. Of the 24 players selected, 11 are locally based. APR FC provide the largest contingent with six players, while Rayon Sports, Police FC and Marine FC each contribute one player. Kiyovu SC have two representatives in the squad, including Fidali Uwiyaremye, who has earned his maiden senior national team call-up following an impressive domestic campaign in which he scored 11 goals in the BK Pro League. The friendlies will give Constantine an important opportunity to assess squad depth, integrate new faces and fine-tune preparations ahead of Rwanda’s next Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. Squad Goalkeepers Patience Niyongira (Police FC) Adolphe Hakizimana (APR FC) Olivier Kwizera (Rayon Sports) Defenders Ange Mutsinzi (Zira FK) Clément Niyigena (APR FC) Phanuel Mabaya Kavita (Birmingham Legion) Yunus Nshimiyimana (APR FC) Jean Gilbert Byiringiro (APR FC) Emmanuel Imanishimwe (AEL Limassol) Claude Niyomugabo (APR FC) Midfielders Noam Fritz Emeran (Groningen FC) Jojea Kwizera (Rhode Island) Johan Marvin Kury (AC Bellinzona) Bonheur Mugisha (Al Masry) Djihad Bizimana (CS Constantine) Samuel Marie Gueulette (RAAL La Louvière) Jean Bosco Ruboneka (APR FC) Kevin Muhire (Jamus SC) Strikers Innocent Nshuti (Al Wafaq) Rene Uwineza (Kiyovu Sports) Abeddy Biramahire (Assabah) Joy Slayd Mickels (Karvan FK) Fidali Uwiyaremye (Kiyovu SC) Taiba Mbonyumwami (Marine FC)
