Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine has named a provisional squad featuring Thierry Manzi and Jean Bosco Ruboneka, recalled ahead of the double-header against Mali, co-leaders of Group K.
Stephen Constantine has included Thierry Manzi and Jean Bosco Ruboneka in a provisional squad for the double-header against Mali in 2027 AFCON qualifying, The New Times reports. The centre-back and the midfielder return to the national team after missing the previous qualifiers.
During that spell they were without a club. They have since bounced back: Manzi at Al Golan SC in Iraq, Ruboneka at Al Tahaddy in Libya.
Two former APR FC men back
Manzi and Ruboneka were team-mates at APR FC before linking up again in this squad. Their return comes as Rwanda prepare to play two matches against Mali, co-leaders of Group K.
The list remains provisional: the final squad has not yet been settled.
A Group K level pegging
Rwanda share top spot in Group K with six points, after consecutive wins over Liberia and Cape Verde. Mali have the same tally and an identical goal difference, according to The New Times. The two national teams therefore head into their double-header level pegging.
Constantine has kept the core of the squad that made this strong start to the campaign. In goal are Patient Niyongira, Adolphe Hakizimana, Yves Mugisha and Fiacre Ntwari, the latter playing for Kruger United in South Africa, according to Dailysports.
A squad spread across the globe
The call-up maps out a wide geography: Ange Mutsinzi (Zira FK, Azerbaijan), Clement Niyigena (Smouha SC, Egypt), Phanuel Kavita (Birmingham Legion, United States) and Bonheur Mugisha (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia) notably complete the provisional squad, Dailysports reports.
Up front, Constantine can count on Innocent Nshuti (Al Wafaq Ajdabiya, Libya), Abeddy Biramahire (Al Batin, Saudi Arabia), Joy-Lance Mickels (Sabah FK, Azerbaijan) and Joy-Slayd Mickels (Hibernians, Malta).
Rwanda travel to Bamako, to the Stade du 26 Mars, on 13 November, before hosting Mali at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium on 17 November.