Rwanda head coach Frank Torsten Spittler has handed Rayon Sports duo Roger Kanamugire and Hakim Bugingo as well as Gorilla FC defender Samuel Nsengiyumva debut national team call ups as a reward to their impressive performances as their respective clubs.
The trio is part of Spittler’s 38-man squad summoned for the forthcoming FIFA international friendlies against Madagascar and Botswana.
Both friendly fixtures will take place in Madagascar between March 18 and March 26 respectively.
Kanamugire and Bugingo have been in fine form as they have been enjoying playing under new head coach Julien Mette while Nsengiyumva has established himself as a key figure in Gorilla’s defense despite being a club going on the brink of relegation from the top flight league.
Overall, the squad comprises 12 foreign-based players including the likes of skipper Djihad Bizimana of Ukraine league leaders FC Kryvbas, left-back Emmanuel Imanishimwe of AS FAR Rabat who also lead the race for the title in Morocco, goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari of TS Galaxy and in form Arthur Gitego who has been enjoying a blistering start to life at new club AFC Leopards in Kenya.
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Muhadjiri Hakizimana of Police FC, Steve Rubanguka of Al Nojoom in Saudi Arabia, and Abeddy Biramahire of UD Songo in Mozambique are among the notable returnees after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively.
On the local front, APR has nine representatives in the squad including familiar faces such as Omborenga Fitina, Christian Ishimwe, and Bosco Ruboneka while Rayon also has six players including Kevin Muhire and Isaac Mitima. Gorilla, Police and AS Kigali have two players each, with Musanze and Kiyovu Sports each having one.
Spittler will be using the upcoming friendly games as part of his preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho in June. Amavubi were off to a bright start to the qualifiers from which they drew goalless with Zimbabwe before beating South Africa 2-0 at Huye Stadium to go top of the Group B table with four points, ahead of the likes of African giants Nigeria who have two points.
The team is expected to enter a training camp on Monday, March 11.
Goalkeepers
Fiacre Ntwari- TS Galaxy
Adolphe Hakizimana - AS Kigali
Maxime Wensens -Royal Union
Gad Muwahenayo- Musanze FC
Defenders
Fitina Omborenga - APR
Jean Bosco Akayezu - AS Kigali
Samuel Nsengiyumva -Gorilla FC
Hakim Bugingo - Rayon Sports
Claude Niyomugabo -APR
Christian Ishimwe -APR
Emmanuel Imanishimwe- FAR Rabat
Aimable Nsabimana-Rayon Sports
Ange Mutsinzi - Jerv
Thierry Manzi - Al Ahli Tripoli
Clément Niyigena-APR
Isaac Mitima-Rayon Sports
Yunusu Nshimiyimana -APR
Midfielders
Djihad Bizimana- Kryvbas FC
Jean Bosco Ruboneka- APR
Simeon Iradukunda- Gorilla FC
Bonheur Mugisha- APR
Olivier Niyonzima-Kiyovu Sports
Steve Rubanguka- Al Nojom
Roger Kanamugire-Rayon Sports
Lague Byiringiro-Sandviken
Patrick Sibomana-Gor Mahia
Ramadhan Niyibizi-APR
Tuyisenge Arsène-Rayon Sports
Alain Kwitonda-APR
Forwards
Gilbert Mugisha-APR
Hadji Iraguha-Rayon Sports
Bienvenue Mugenzi-Police FC
Hakim Sahabo -Standard Liege
Muhadjiri Hakizimana -Police FC
Innocent Nshuti-One Knoxville
Arthur Gitego-AFC Leopards
Abeddy Biramahire -UD Songo