September 29 Cape Verde vs Rwanda (Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia) Rwanda face arguably their toughest test yet in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when they take on Cape Verde in a crucial Group K encounter at Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia on Tuesday. The Amavubi go into the match high on confidence after opening their campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Liberia in Kigali. They will be looking to maintain their perfect start and secure a positive result away from home. A win would strengthen Rwanda’s position in the group and boost their hopes of qualifying for the continental showpiece. Cape Verde, meanwhile, will be under pressure to respond after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Mali in their opening qualifier. Another setback could leave the Blue Sharks playing catch-up in a competitive group that also includes Liberia. Playing in front of their home supporters, Cape Verde will be determined to get their campaign back on track. Despite their opening defeat, the Blue Sharks remain a formidable side on home soil. Amavubi coach Stephen Constantine acknowledged the challenge facing his team but said his players had travelled to Praia with belief and ambition. “We came here to take something from this game,” Constantine said ahead of the match, making it clear that Rwanda are not in Cape Verde merely to defend. The Englishman also paid tribute to Cape Verde’s impressive performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the knockout stages on their debut, but stressed that the AFCON qualifiers present a different challenge. “Cape Verde represented Africa in the best possible way. They had a fantastic World Cup, but now it is AFCON,” Constantine said. “I would like to congratulate them, but we came here to take something from this game. Hopefully, we will try and get a result.” Rwanda arrived in Praia after a lengthy journey from their previous assignment, but Constantine was satisfied with how his players had adapted. “We had our first training session. They have adjusted well. I am happy that everyone is working hard. We know how important the game is,” he said. The coach believes the confidence gained from the victory over Liberia can help Rwanda cope with the challenge in Praia. “We respect Cape Verde because they are a very good team, especially when they play at home. They have quality players and they will be motivated after losing their first match. But we have come here with confidence after our performance against Liberia.” He added: “Qualification campaigns are won through consistency, discipline and hard work. We have to show the same commitment and concentration against Cape Verde.” Rwanda’s opening victory provided plenty of encouragement, particularly in attack, where they showed greater creativity and efficiency in front of goal. However, Constantine expects a different contest against a Cape Verde side determined to bounce back. “Every game has its own story. We know this could be a very different match. Away games in Africa are never easy, but we believe in our players and we believe we can get a positive result if we execute our game plan correctly.” The two sides have a recent history of closely contested encounters. Their last meeting ended in a goalless draw during the 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign. Constantine has challenged his players to embrace the occasion and show the character required to compete at the highest level. “These are the matches players want to be involved in. We are representing our country and we have to be brave, organised and disciplined. If we do that, then we give ourselves every chance of getting something from the game,” he said. With Rwanda looking to build on their strong start and Cape Verde seeking a response, the encounter in Praia promises to be a demanding test for the Amavubi.
