Rwanda Face Cape Verde in Crucial AFCON 2027 Qualifier

Rwanda will return to action in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers on Tuesday, September 29, when they visit Cape Verde in a Group K encounter at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 Rwanda time, with both teams looking for an important result in the second round of the qualifying campaign.

Amavubi arrive in Praia with confidence after opening their campaign with a 3–1 victory over Liberia at Amahoro Stadium on September 25.

Abeddy Biramahire, Leroy-Jacques Mickels and Joy-Lance Mickels were on target as Rwanda collected three points in their opening match.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, started their campaign with a 3–1 defeat against Mali in Bamako. The Blue Sharks will therefore be looking to respond in front of their home supporters.

Rwanda currently have three points in Group K, level with Mali, while Liberia and Cape Verde are yet to register a point.

Head coach Stephen Constantine has travelled with a 24-player squad for the important encounter. Among those included are goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, defenders Ange Mutsinzi and Phanuel Kavita, midfielders Djihad Bizimana, Samuel Gueulette and Noam Emeran, as well as forwards Leroy-Jacques Mickels, Joy-Lance Mickels and Abeddy Biramahire.

The match also presents an opportunity for Rwanda to build on their strong start and collect points away from home.

Rwanda and Cape Verde have previously faced each other twice, with both encounters ending in goalless draws.

With the two teams coming into the match after contrasting results on Matchday 1, Tuesday’s encounter promises to be an important battle in the race for qualification from Group K.

The top two teams from groups without an AFCON 2027 co-host will qualify for the tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.