Amavubi were beaten 1-0 at the hands of Djibouti in the first leg of the 2025 AFCON preliminary round match held at Amahoro Stadium on Sunday, October 26.

Djibouti hosted their home match in Kigali as their home ground, El Hadj Hassan Gouled Stadium, remains banned by CAF and FIFA from hosting international games because it doesn't meet required standards.

The game lacked quality football but one moment of brilliance from striker Gabriel Abeiku Dadzie in the 79th minute made the difference for the Djiboutians who now have a one-goal advantage ahead of Thursday’s second leg decider.

Rwanda must overturn the 1-0 deficit to sail through, awaiting test from their next opponent in either Kenya or South Sudan who are facing off in the similar preliminary round. South Sudan are in pole position to qualify for the second round after beating Harmabee Stars of Kenya 2-0 in the first leg.

Djibouti are a very compact team and they can cause problems, especially in attack, when you least expect.

But what can Rwanda coach Frank Spittler do to achieve the comeback?

Times Sport takes a look at what the German gaffer can do to qualify for the next preliminary round.

Get hold of Dadzie and Akinbinu

First leg goal scorer Gabriel Dadzie is a Ghanaian born who has naturalized for Djibouti after playing in the country for four years.

He partners in attack with Samuel Akinbinu, a Nigerian born who also naturalized for Djibouti. Akinbinu is the top scorer in the Djibouti national team with 8 goals.

Clement Niyigena and Yunusu Nshimiyimana must up their game to contain the duo or else they can cause havoc yet again.

Dadzie has scored twice in four 2026 World Cup qualifiers games for Djibouti, a testament the talent he has at his disposal.

ALSO READ: In form Twieriana eyes Amavubi call up

Start Gilbert Mugisha

Spittler stated that the APR winger did not start the first leg because he missed some training sessions while away for his wedding. Mugisha played just 45 minutes and he was arguably Amavubi's best player on the day.

He is expected to start on Thursday and this is a big plus for the team. Mugisha is deadly on the right flank and can conjure magic on his own if he gets the needed balls.

Deploy in-form Twizerimana in attack

Amavubi struggled against Djibouti because they were poor in attack. Osee Iyabivuze, who was playing upfront, looked virtually lost in the game.

Spittler has invited Onesme Twizerimana who is a natural goal scorer. The former APR, and Police striker, earned Amavubi call up after netting his first half hat trick when Vision FC thrashed Marines 4-0 win in the Rwanda Premier League over the weekend.

Twizerimana is a striker whose confidence is at its peak now. He has always waited for his time in the Amavubi and it has surely come. He is now eager to prove a point to Spittler and Djibouti is the right test for him to show what he’s got.

Play with a natural defensive midfielder

Spittler deployed Arsene Tuyisenge in defensive midfield in the first leg citing that the APR winger is more suited in the position because of his height and huge frame.

Though it worked to some extent, at times, Tuyisenge was still at sea as he was leaving the middle to be on the wing which he is more comfortable with.

This experiment should be done in trial games not in a qualifier and it will obviously take Tuyisenge some time to adapt to his new role. New addition Sdjat Niyonkuru can fill the number 6 post well and get the job done with ease.

Put Gad Muhawenayo in the posts

Anyone following the Rwanda Premier League this season can attest to the fact that the Gorilla FC shot stopper is the best in the league.

Muhawenayo is one of the main reasons Gorilla FC are at the top of the table. He has faced more shots than any keeper in the competition and has made most saves in the process. He saved more than 10 shots in their victories over Mukura and Police.

Amavubi need a keeper who can organize the back four, good in the posts on top of having great reflexes and Muhawenayo ticks all those boxes.

He could have saved that strike that Dadzie put past Niyongira in the first leg.