Constantine Drops Five Players from Amavubi Training Camp

Rwanda national team coach Stephen Constantine announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, that five players who were called up to the team's training camp will not travel with the squad to Mali for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The players in question are Mbonyumwami Taiba, a forward for Ethiopian club Bunna SC, Mugisha Yves, a midfielder for Rayon Sports, Muhire Kevin, a player for Sudanese club Jamus SC, and Elie Ganijuru, also from Rayon Sports.

According to Constantine, the dropped players were not deemed necessary for the team at this time. He explained that Elie Ganijuru was called up to assess his level, but the team decided he needed to improve certain aspects of his game before being considered for the main squad. "We called up Elie from Rayon Sports to take a close look at him, which is not bad. However, we need to work on some things, and we ask ourselves if we need him now. We don't think we need him currently, but we might need him in the future," Constantine said.

The dropped players join Uwiyaremye Fidali, who was already dismissed from the training camp on the first day due to disciplinary issues. Constantine also praised Muhoza Daniel from Rayon Sports, stating that he is a talented player who could be called up to the main squad in the future. The team will continue their training camp before departing for Bamako, Mali, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Rwanda is set to face Mali on November 13, 2026, and the two teams will also meet again on November 17, 2026, at Stade Amahoro in Kigali. Both teams currently have six points in Group K, with Rwanda having defeated Liberia 3-1 and Cape Verde 2-1, while Mali secured wins against Cape Verde 3-1 and Liberia 1-0.

The upcoming match against Mali is crucial for Rwanda's chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. Constantine's team will need to perform well to secure a positive result against their opponents. The coach's decision to drop five players from the training camp suggests that he is narrowing down his squad and focusing on the players he believes can deliver a strong performance.

The Rwanda national team, also known as Amavubi, has been preparing for the upcoming qualifier against Mali. With the team set to depart for Bamako on November 10, 2026, Constantine will finalize his squad selection and make any necessary adjustments before the big match.

The Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Rwanda and Mali promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to secure a win and boost their chances of advancing to the tournament.

Key points

• Coach Stephen Constantine dropped five players from the Amavubi training camp.
• The players dropped include Mbonyumwami Taiba, Mugisha Yves, Muhire Kevin, Elie Ganijuru, and Uwiyaremye Fidali.
• Rwanda will face Mali on November 13, 2026, in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.