New Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine unveils squad ahead of 2026 FIFA Series

[p]The 63-year-old English tactician took charge of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rwanda/4dPTyCvg/"]Rwanda[/a] national team Amavubi for the second time, and he arrived to replace Adel Amrouche, who was fired early in January.[/p][p]Amrouche was in charge of Rwanda from March last year, following the departure of German coach Torsten Spittler, who left the role in December 2024.[/p][h2]‘I do have unfinished business’[/h2][p]Ahead of his first test in charge of the team, Constantine, who during his time saw the East African nation ranked 64th in the FIFA World rankings, has revealed he still has unfinished business with Rwandan football.[/p][p][b]“I do have unfinished business in Rwanda. We qualified for AFCON but later fell short, and now I am back to finish the job,”[/b] Constantine told journalists in Rwanda as quoted by [i][b]New Times Sport[/b][/i].[/p][p][b]“I am glad to be back here. I still believe we can do better, and I believe Rwanda can be even stronger than it was eleven years ago.”[/b][/p][embed guid="bd3bf528-1d55-44ee-9d8e-eeb96ab0ff0a" url="https://x.com/FERWAFA/status/2033660009771389257" social-type="twitter" /][p]The new coach has previously handled India, Nepal, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malawi/vT8sNsdL/"]Malawi[/a], Sudan, and Pakistan. Constantine officially started work on March 16th to prepare the team ahead of the FIFA Series in Kigali.[/p][p][b]The 2026 FIFA Series will be the second edition of the FIFA Series, an invitational Association football tournament promoted by FIFA that features friendly matches between national teams from different continental confederations.[/b][/p][p]The men's section of the 2026 edition will feature nine different four-team series taking place across eight host countries during the FIFA window of 25-31 March.[/p][p][b]Initially, nine host countries were announced, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mauritius/tpBfGJ31/"]Mauritius[/a], Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan, with New Zealand joining later.[/b][/p][p]However, Mauritius had to withdraw from organising their series as their national team will have to compete in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification preliminary round during the same FIFA window in March 2026, so this series was moved to Rwanda, which will host two series, reducing the number of host countries to eight.[/p][p][b]The purpose of the FIFA Series is to facilitate meaningful international friendly matches between national teams from different confederations that would not normally compete against one another, thereby supporting football development both on and off the pitch.[/b][/p][p]The 2026 edition of this initiative will feature 48 national teams – representing almost a quarter of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations – competing in 12 groups of four teams each.[/p][p][b]Rwanda will open their FIFA Series campaign against Grenada national team at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/grenada-QiFl2nl5/rwanda-4dPTyCvg/?mid=2BAJPwGg"]Amahoro Stadium on March 27[/a]. The two sides are in Group A, alongside [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kenya/CIAJw1QK/"]Kenya[/a] national team Harambee Stars and Estonia national football team.[/b][/p][embed guid="10afd881-49be-4c6b-b018-7c84f09711f5" url="https://x.com/FERWAFA/status/2033574806801559683" social-type="twitter" /][p]Meanwhile, Group B will feature Tanzania, Liechtenstein national team, Aruba national team, and Macau national team. Kenya coach Benni McCarthy has already unveiled the squad for the tournament.[/p][h2]Rwanda Amavubi squad for FIFA Series;[/h2][p][b]Goalkeepers[/b]: Fiacre Ntwari, Hugo Bigirimana, Patience Niyongira and Adolphe Hakizimana.[/p][p][b]Defenders[/b]: Ange Mutsinzi, Thierry Manzi, Kavita Phanuel Mbaya and Yunusu Nshimiyimana, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Claude Niyomugabo, Jean Gilbert Byiringiro and Obed Uwumukiza.[/p][p][b]Midfielders[/b]: Bonheur Mugisha, Djihad Bizimana, Samuel Gueulette, Kevin Muhire, Sven Kalisa, Jean Bosco Ruboneka, Hakim Sahabo and Rene Uwineza.[/p][p][b]Forwards[/b]: Mickels Joy Slayd, Karl Matteo Ndayishimiye Innocent Nshuti, Mickels Joy Lance, Abeddy Biramahire, Lague Byiringiro, Jojea Kwizera, Mickels Leroy Jacques, Kury Johan Marvin, David Niyo and Gilbert Mugisha.[/p][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/botswana/naNvXTwI/"]Botswana[/a] head coach Morena Ramoreboli has unveiled the preliminary squad for the Four Nations Tournament at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium- Francistown.[/p][p]Botswana is set to face Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi in what promises to be a thrilling regional showdown.[/p][image alt="Dennis Mabuka" id="009ee08a-c012-41bf-bdae-acba9770ea19" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="736d8938-d3b7-44cd-afe2-33bc3a4f0687" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]