Rwanda U23 Eliminate Sudan to Reach Second Round of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Rwanda’s U23 national team have advanced to the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations U23 qualifiers after eliminating Sudan 4–1 on aggregate.

Rwanda’s U23 national team have advanced to the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations U23 qualifiers after eliminating Sudan 4–1 on aggregate.

The Amavubi U23 secured their progress after drawing 1–1 with Sudan in the second leg on Tuesday in Juba. Rwanda had already done most of the work in the first leg, recording a convincing 3–0 victory at Kigali Pelé Stadium on September 30. Rwanda survive Sudan test

Rwanda entered the return leg with a three-goal advantage and faced a difficult task away from home. Sudan managed to take the lead, but the Rwandan side responded in the second half to secure a 1–1 draw and, more importantly, a 4–1 aggregate victory.

The result means coach Eric Nshimiyimana and his players can now turn their attention to the next stage of the qualification campaign. 

Rwanda’s first-leg victory in Kigali came through goals from Abdul Niyigena, Honore Shingiro and Jesus Paul Sindi, giving the team a strong advantage before travelling to Juba.
Cameroon next for Rwanda

Rwanda’s reward for eliminating Sudan is a second-round meeting with Cameroon, who received a bye into this stage of the competition.

According to CAF’s official qualification schedule, the second-round first legs are scheduled for 9 November 2026, with the return legs set for 17 November 202

The Rwanda-Cameroon tie will therefore be a major test for the young Amavubi, with the winner moving on to the decisive third round of qualification.

Road to Egypt 2027

The 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Egypt. The qualification process consists of three rounds, with the seven teams that win their third-round ties joining hosts Egypt at the final tournament. 
The tournament is also important beyond the AFCON title itself. The competition forms part of Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, adding further significance to Rwanda’s campaig

Rwanda now have Cameroon standing between them and the final qualifying round. After eliminating Sudan with a 4–1 aggregate score, the Amavubi U23 will be looking to take another major step towards Egypt 2027.