NEWS
Munyantwali voted new Rwanda Football Federation President
The chairman of Police FC, Alphose Munyantwali has been voted as the new President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
Munyantwali was voted to lead the Federation for two years during an Extraordinary General Assembly held on June 23rd, 2023 at the Lemigo Hotel in Kigali.
The elections were also graced by FIFA Council Member Amaju Pinnick from Nigeria and CAF Exective member who is also President of the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) Eng. Moses Magogo.
The election came two months after Olivier Mugabo Nizeyimana stepped down citing personal reasons. Munyantwali, who was unopposed garnered 50 votes out of a possible 56 from delegates in the Assembly.
For the other positions on the FERWAFA executive Marcel Matiku Habyarimana, was re-elected FA’s first vice President in charge of Administration and Finance, while Richard Mugisha was elected second vice President in charge of Technical Development.
Munyantwali, a former Mayor of Nyamagabe said he is happy to come and serve football in Rwanda. “I know and love football, I have played it and supported it throughout my career,” said the newly elected President.
The other positions filled during the Assembly include; Jean Marie Rugambwa (financial commissioner), Quinta Rwakunda (commissioner for marketing and fundraising), Amani Evariste Turatsinze (commissioner in charge of organizing the competition), Hamdan Habimana (Technical and Development Commissioner of Football), Ancille Munyankana (commissioner for women’s football), Louis Rurangirwa (commissioner for safety and ethics in sports), Claudine Gasarabwe (commissioner for law), Herbert Gatsinzi (Sports Medicine Commissioner), while Vedaste Ngendahayo is the commissioner in charge of national teams.
Experienced Stephen Constantine has been appointed new coach of Rwanda’s national team.
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) announced the development on March 12th, 2026.
“FERWAFA is pleased to officially announce the confirmation and appointment of Stephen Constantine as the head coach of the Rwanda Senior men national Football team and the Rwanda U-23 national team on a two year renewable contract,” said the communication.
It will be the Englishman’s second tenure with the Amavubi, following his first one in 2014-2015.
Constantine will officially start work on March 16th to prepare the team ahead of the FIFA Series which will take place March 26-31st in Kigali. Rwanda are placed in the same group with Kenya, Estonia and Grenada in the FIFA Series.
The new coach has previously handled India, Nepal, Malawi, Sudan, and Pakistan. He is now expected to leave his role at Cypriot club APEA Akrotiri to start his second tenure as Rwanda head coach.
Two member Associations of Rwanda and Tanzania will host some of the six CECAFA competitions planned for the 2026 season.
Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA Interim Executive Director on Tuesday announced the Member Associations that won hosting rights for the various tournaments.
Tanzania will host the season opening CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship May 30th to June 14th, 2026. Tanzania will also host the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 – CECAFA qualifiers to run August 22nd to September 6th.
Rwanda who last hosted a CECAFA competition five years ago will start by hosting the clubs tournament, the CECAFA Kagame Cup from July 18th to August 9th. The club tournament will also help teams in the Zone prepare ahead of the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA qualifiers, CAF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA qualifiers, and the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) – CECAFA qualifiers will all be hosted by Rwanda.
“We are very excited and thank all the different Member Associations who applied to host the different CECAFA competitions,” says Sseninde.
CECAFA are also engaging sponsors and partners to be able to secure funds to be able to include the CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship and the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the 2026 calendar.
CECAFA 2026 competitions
1 CECAFA U-17 Girls Championship May 30 – June 14
2 CECAFA Kagame Cup July 18 – August 9
3 CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA Qualifiers July 22 – 25
4 AF Women’s Champions League – CECAFA Qualifiers August 22 – September 6
5 U-20 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers September 12 – 27
6 U-17 AFCON – CECAFA Qualifiers October 10-25
Not included yet
CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship July
CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup
Sudan Premier League giants Al Hilal SC have traveled to Morocco ahead of their first leg tie against RS Berkane in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions league.
Coach Laurentiu Reghecampf’s team traveled on Thursday ahead of the match at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane on March 14th.
“We are determined to try and get a good result I this first leg and it explains why we have also made an early trip,” says the Al Hilal coach.
Although Reghecampf considers it a very tough and tactical encounter, he is optimistic they have what it takes to register good results in the two legs. “We need to be at our best to defend and attack as a team,” he added.
To reach the quarter final stage Al Hilal SC topped Group C with 11 points after registering three wins, two draws and one defeat. RS Berkane came second in Group A with 10 points behind reigning champions Pyramids.
Al Hilal SC will host RS Berkane in the return leg on March 22nd at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
Al Hilal SC are currently to pf the table in the Rwanda Premier League. They opted to play in the Rwanda Premier League because of the political instability back in Sudan.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared the Dire Dawa Stadium to host the return leg of the preliminary round of the AFCON 2027 qualifier between Ethiopia and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Bahiru Tilahun, the Secretary General of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) says the match will be played on March 31st.
“The qualifier second leg against São Tomé and Príncipe will be played at Dire Dawa Stadium on March 31, 2026 after a successful CAF inspection,” said Tilahun.
Eritrea who also return to the AFCON qualifiers after some years will take on Eswatini, while Burundi face Chad, Somalia battle Mauritius, and South Sudan tussle it out against Djibouti.
The six winners of the preliminary round ties over two legs will advance to join the other 42 CAF Member Associations in the group stage of the qualifiers.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
Preliminary round fixture
Djibouti vs South Sudan
Chad vs Burundi
Somalia vs Mauritius
Seychelles vs Lesotho
Eritrea vs Eswatini
Sao Tome & Principe vs Ethiopia
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