Rwanda head coach Thorsten Frank Spittler has said that they are waiting for a greenlight from the world football governing body (FIFA) allowing Bugesera FC striker Elijah Ani to play for Amavubi in the upcoming June World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho.

The Amavubi tactician hailed Ani, who is of Nigerian origin, as an excellent player and a nice person who can help his team to greater heights, revealing that Rwanda FA is waiting for a feedback from FIFA feedback and he is optimistic laws governing player's nationality switch amended in April could stand in the player’s favor to play for Amavubi.

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"Ani is a talented footballer and a great personality. Our federation is liaising with FIFA if it is possible for him to be in the team for the next World Cup qualifiers," Spittler told the press.

"We called him to camp and he is training with us to ensure that he gets ready to play upcoming qualifiers once the clearance comes out positive. Some of the FIFA rules on nationality switch changed last month and I am positive he will be cleared. I want to use him against Benin and Lesotho if he is cleared, that is why he is still with us," he added.

Asked how he spotted Ani, Spittler said that he and his technical team watched games at the various league centres across the country and they picked him.

"As the coaching staff, we watched games at all the venues to scout talented players who can help our team and we all came to agree on him. We talked to him and he was also ready and happy to feature for the national team. Now the final decision rests in FIFA’s hands," he said.

Beyond World Cup qualifiers

Spittler said that he is also building his team for the 2024 CECACAFA tournament which kicks off in July.

" We are not only preparing a team for the World Cup qualifiers, but also for the CECAFA competition in July. There are some good players also who will be invited. After the qualifiers in June, we will break for one week before regrouping for preparations for CECAFA," he added.