Rwanda’s Amavubi Clinch Historic FIFA Series Title

The Rwandan national football team, the Amavubi, has won the FIFA Series tournament hosted in Rwanda, marking the third trophy in the team’s history. This victory came after defeating Estonia 2-0 in the final.
The international friendly tournament concluded on Monday, March 30, 2026. Rwanda reached the final after a dominant 4-0 win over Grenada in the earlier stages of the tournament.
The head coach fielded the exact same starting eleven that had successfully navigated the previous rounds, opting for continuity and chemistry.
How the Match Unfolded
The Rwandan national team started the match aggressively, searching for an early opener, though creating clear-cut chances proved difficult at first.
- 31st Minute: Rwanda’s breakthrough came when Joy-Lance Mickels delivered a precise cross, which Abeddy Biramahire brilliantly converted into the net. Both teams went into the halftime break with Rwanda leading 1-0.
- 51st Minute: The Amavubi started the second half with high energy. Leroy-Jacques Mickels doubled the lead after receiving a clinical pass from team captain Djihad Bizimana.
Tactical Substitutions
In the 65th minute, Rwanda made its first set of substitutions:
- Manzi Thierry, Lague Byiringiro, and Hakim Sahabo came on for Phanuel Kavita, Jojea Kwizera, and Abeddy Biramahire.
- Later on, Gilbert Mugisha and Joy-Slayd Mickels were introduced, replacing Leroy-Jacques Mickels and Joy-Lance Mickels.
Despite pushing for a third goal, the scoreline remained 2-0 until the final whistle, sealing the championship for Rwanda.
A Historic Achievement
The Amavubi lifted the trophy in front of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, who attended the match to support the national team (having also watched the previous victory against Grenada).
This marks the third major trophy in the history of the Rwandan national team, adding to the 1999 CECAFA Cup (won by the Rwanda ‘B’ team) and the COMESA Cup won in 2001.





