Rwanda’s national football team, the Amavubi, have kicked off preparations for a decisive round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they eye crucial fixtures against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

The team assembled at Gorilla Hotel on Sunday, August 31, before holding their first training session later that afternoon at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Head coach Adel Amrouche has named a 27-man provisional squad, which will be trimmed down to 24 players for the two-match assignment.

The Amavubi are scheduled to depart Kigali on Tuesday, September 2, aboard RwandAir for Nigeria. They will head to Uyo, where they will lock horns with the Super Eagles on September 6 in what promises to be a high-stakes clash.

Just a day after that fixture, the Rwandan delegation will travel to South Africa, where they will play Zimbabwe on September 9.

These games carry immense weight for both Rwanda and Nigeria, who are trailing group leaders South Africa. The Bafana Bafana currently top the group with 13 points—though their tally is under review following a FIFA probe into alleged use of an ineligible player against Lesotho in March.

Rwanda are second in the group with eight points, tied with Benin, while Nigeria sit fourth with seven points. Lesotho follow closely with six points, and Zimbabwe prop up the table with four.

With the race for qualification intensifying, Amrouche’s men will be hoping to strengthen their push for a historic World Cup berth.