Pros join Rwanda camp ahead of Benin, Lesotho WC qualifiers
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Steve Rubanguka, who plies his trade at Saudi Arabian side Al Nojoom, was the first foreign-based professional player to join the camp. Courtesy

Rwandan professional players have started to join the camp at La Palisse Hotel, Nyamata, as preparations for the upcoming June FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho continue.

Rwanda will face Benin at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire on June 6 before going up against Lesotho at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on June 11.

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Steve Rubanguka, who plies his trade at Saudi Arabian side Al Nojoom, was the first foreign-based professional player to join the camp and he participated in Tuesday afternoon’s training session at Ntare School stadium in Nyamata.

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Meanwhile, Patrick Sibomana, fresh from celebrating the Kenyan league title with Gor Mahia will join the camp on May 24 while TS Galaxy shot stopper Fiacre Ntwali and FC Shkupi defender Abdul Rwatubyaye will arrive on May 26.

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Standard de Liège midfielder Hakim Sabaho will join the camp on May 27 and, later on May 28, Innocent Nshuti (One Knoxville SC) and Arthur Gitego (AFC Leopards) will jet in.

Captain of Amavubi Djihad Bizimana (Kryvbas) arrives in Kigali on May 29 while Maxime Wenssens (Royal Union Saint-Gilloise), Dylan Georges Francis Maes (Jelgava FS) and Samuel Gueulette (Raal La Louvière) will be with others on May 30.

Ange Jimmy Mutsinzi (FK Jerv), Bonheur Mugisha (AS Marsa) and Emmanuel Mangwende (FAR Rabat) and Rafael York (Gefle IF) will join the camp on June 3 while the arrival of Thierry Manzi (Al Ahli Tripoli) has not been schedule yet.

Rwanda currently top Group C with four points, followed by South Africa with three points and Nigeria with two and Lesotho will face Rwanda. Benin are currently in last place with one point.

Rwanda currently sit top Group C with four points, followed by South Africa with three points and Nigeria with two points. Benin are bottom of the group with one point.