There are many young Rwandan footballers scattered across the globe who continue to make headlines. Some were born abroad while others moved there from various leagues in Rwanda. Times Sport takes a look at the 10 best young Rwandan players abroad. Noam Emeran (Manchester United, England) Emeran has been brilliant for the Manchester United U21 squad in the Premier League 2 netting seven goals and providing two assists in 33 games since 2021. He trained a couple of times with the senior team and is one of the players who could effectively cement their place in the senior side for the 2023/24 season. The 20-year-old winger is eligible to play for Rwanda, the country of his parents despite representing France twice at U16 level. ALSO READ: Noam Emeran: The Rwandan prodigy taking Man Utd preseason by storm Hakim Sahabo (Standard Liege, Belgium) The 18-year-old offensive midfielder is already a full Rwandan international having already been capped five times since making his debut on November 17, 2022, against Sudan in an international friendly. During the 2022/23 season, he scored five goals for Lille U19 in the French Youth League which included the winner in both home and away games against PSG. ALSO READ: Sahabo completes Standard Liege move Sahabo signed for Standard Liege in a three-year deal for an undisclosed amount on July 1, 2023, and he will feature for their second team in the Belgian Challenger Pro League this season. Patrick Mutsinzi (Al Wahda, UAE) Mutsinzi was on fire during the 2022/23 season, netting seven goals for the U21 side of UAE Pro League side Al Wahda after being signed in January 2023 from Rwanda second tier club Heroes FC. He also featured for the senior team in cup games. Al Wahda have appointed Pitso Mosimane as their new head coach and he is expected to give the Rwandan striker more opportunities. Irvyn Lomami (Lyon, France) The marauding right-back was one of the key players for the Olympique Lyon U21 side in the 2022/23 season. He played 17 games in the CFA League scoring one goal for the club. Lomami who is also registered with the senior team could have a permanent place next season. Noe Uwimana (Virginia Tech, USA) The Philadelphia Union teenager has already signed for Virginia Tech and will join them effectively on August 1. He was instrumental for Philadelphia Union Academy during the 2023 season and is expected to shine at Virginia Tech. Hugo Bigirimana (BEJune, Switzerland) The agile shot stopper is the first choice goalkeeper of BEJune FC U19 side in Switzerland. He was among the outstanding goalkeepers in the Swiss youth league during the 2022/23 season and could be offered a place in the senior side for the upcoming 2023/24 season. The 18-year-old goalkeeper is highly rated in the Swiss youth league. Claus Niyunkuri (FK Haugesund, Norway) The FC Haugesund defender was born to a Rwandan mother and a Burundian father in Norway but is yet to be capped at any level. He made six appearances during the 2023 season before a serious knee injury which ended his campaign. He is expected to be back before the Norwegian topflight season ends in December. Sanders Ngabo (Lyngby BK, Denmark) Ngabo,18, was born to a Rwandan father and a Burundian mother in Denmark. He plays for the senior team of Superligaen club Lyngby BK. He made five appearances for the Lyngby senior team in the 2022/23 season while he played 18 times for the U19 squad scoring four goals. Ngabo has been capped by Norway at U18 and U19, respectively, but is still eligible to feature for either Rwanda or Burundi. Niyo Espoir Nsanzineza (Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland) Niyo, 19, played on loan at YF Juventus in the 2022/23 season making 11 appearances in the Swiss third tier. The talented holding midfielder is back to his parents’ club Rapperswil-Jona and will feature for them in the 2023/24 season. Niyo who was born to Rwandan parents in Switzerland previously featured for the U17 and U18 teams of FC Zurich. Emmanuel Baru Gisa, (FK Fram, Norway) Gisa plays as a midfielder for FK Fram in the Norwegian third tier. He joined the club in April 2023 and has so far played 10 games for them. Gisa integrated into the team so well and is expected to explode when the second round begins. He previously featured for Odd BK and Pors FK.
