CHAN 2025 qualifiers: Five players who could decide Djibouti vs Rwanda tie

Djibouti’s Shore men of the Red Sea will host Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium on Sunday, October 27 in a CHAN 2025 preliminary first leg encounter. Djibouti are playing their home game in Kigali as the El Hassan Gouled Aptidon Stadium is below standards and has therefore been banned by CAF and FIFA from hosting international games. Clearly, Amavubi looks certain to qualify to the next stage of the competition ahead of Djibouti. Both teams, however, have talented individual players who can decide the outcome of the game and Weekend Sport takes a look at five of them. Gilbert Mugisha The APR left-winger has been a regular starter during all of Amavubi's 2026 World Cup as well as 2025 AFCON qualifiers. He is a very fast and tricky winger with lots of tricks under his sleeves. He has everything a winger needs and, on a good day, he can torment any right-back on the African continent. So far, he has scored three times in 11 games for Amavubi and he has been a key component of the team. CHAN Qualifiers: Djibouti to host Amavubi in Kigali Gabriel Abeiku Dadzie The Ghanaian-born striker, who naturalized for Djibouti in 2022, is a prolific scorer who regarded as an iconic figure in the Djibouti League. He has netted close to 100 goals in his four-year stint in the country where he has featured for Arta/Solar 7 and ASAS Djibouti Telecom. On the international scene, the 27-year-old striker has netted 5 goals in 13 appearances for the Djibouti national team. Two of the goals have come in four games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Dadzie has good physique, eye for goal and, above all, he is a speedster. If Amavubi don’t mark him well, he could pose a major threat. Claude Niyomugabo The APR skipper is arguably the best left-back in the Rwanda Premier League and he has also shown his mettle in Amavubi set up, following outstanding performances against Nigeria and Libya in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Niyomugabo, who can also play in central midfield, is very dangerous when he is on the offensive side. He also defends gallantly. The Djibouti players will undoubtedly have a hell of time dealing with his pace in the game. Ali Youssouf Farada At 29, Farada is currently the most capped player in the Djibouti national team with 34 appearances and 1 goal to his name. The towering centre back is a regular starter for AS Port and he is among the best defenders in the Djiboutian league. His tactical awareness is one of his major tools and he always gets the job done without a blemish. Farada defends gallantly and it is difficult to bypass him on his good day. Amavubi attackers have to go all out if he gets a good game. Kevin Muhire The Rayon Sports captain has been in fine form before his selection in Rwandan squad preparing for Djibouti. He provided two assists as his club beat Bugesera FC 2-0 in the Rwanda Premier League over the weekend. Frank Spittler hopes to rely on Muhire’s skills to dictate the pace of the game in midfield and he could be the deciding factor if Amavubi are to win the game.