Confidence is growing in Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi, as players prepare to face Mali in two important Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, with head coach Stephen Constantine determined to maintain the team’s winning start despite having limited time to train his squad.
The mood in camp was highlighted during a press conference held in Kigali on Monday, November 9, 2026, ahead of the team’s trip to Bamako.
Rwanda will face Mali on November 13 before hosting the return match at Amahoro Stadium on November 17, with both sides currently holding six points in Group K.
“We are going to Mali looking for a win, but even a draw would keep us on course for the Africa Cup of Nations,” striker Nshuti Innocent said, expressing confidence in the team’s preparations and determination to qualify for the 2027 tournament.
Nshuti explained that the players had been working well together and that those who had not yet joined the camp were also in good condition, according to information received by the team.
He said the current squad had undergone changes that made him believe Amavubi could compete with stronger opponents and achieve their qualification target.
The striker’s confidence comes after Rwanda opened its qualifying campaign with two victories, beating Liberia 3-1 in Kigali before defeating Cape Verde 2-1 away from home.
The victory in Cape Verde was particularly encouraging for the players, who now hope to produce another strong performance away from home.
Despite the positive atmosphere, Constantine acknowledged that preparing for Mali had not been easy because several players were involved in domestic and international club competitions.
The coach explained that he had only four days to work with locally based players and approximately two days with those joining from clubs abroad.
That left the technical staff with a limited period to prepare the squad for two matches that could influence Rwanda’s chances of qualifying for the tournament.
Constantine said the coaching staff had worked to make the most of the available time, focusing on getting the players ready for the challenge ahead.
“We never go into a match thinking we are going to lose,” Constantine said, pointing to Rwanda’s previous victories over Liberia and Cape Verde.
He explained that the team would approach Mali with the same determination it showed during the away victory against Cape Verde.
The coach also expressed confidence that his players could compete for a positive result despite facing a difficult opponent.
Amavubi began their preparations on November 5 at the FERWAFA Technical Centre, where locally based players were joined by members of the technical staff.
The early training sessions focused on physical readiness as the team prepared to bring together players arriving from different clubs.
Defender Claude Niyomugabo also described the atmosphere in camp as positive, saying the players were united in their determination to perform well.
Niyomugabo, who was selected despite currently being without a club, explained that he had continued training and following instructions given by the national team’s coaching staff.
He said remaining active had helped him maintain his physical condition and earn another opportunity to represent Rwanda.
The defender urged Rwandan supporters to maintain confidence in the team, stressing that the players understood the importance of the upcoming matches.
He said Amavubi would aim to secure a good result in Bamako before returning home, where they would seek all three points in front of their supporters.
Rwanda and Mali have both made strong starts to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns.
Amavubi lead Group K with six points from two matches, while Mali also have six points after defeating Cape Verde 3-1 and Liberia 1-0.
The two meetings will therefore bring together the group’s leading teams, each seeking to strengthen its position before the final qualifying matches in March 2027.
Under the competition’s qualification format, the top two teams in Group K will secure places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
For Rwanda, qualification would mark a return to the continental tournament after more than two decades. Amavubi last participated in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004.
The latest performances have strengthened the players’ confidence, but the team still faces important challenges before achieving that ambition.
With the first encounter scheduled for Bamako on November 13, Constantine and his players will now have an opportunity to test their preparations against another unbeaten team.
Four days later, they will return to Amahoro Stadium, where Rwandan supporters will have the opportunity to watch Amavubi continue their campaign for a place at AFCON 2027.
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