KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi, began its campaign for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3–1 victory over Liberia on Friday, September 25, at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, delivering an encouraging opening performance before a large home crowd that included President Paul Kagame.
Rwanda entered the Group K contest with an attacking approach and was rewarded almost immediately. Abeddy Biramahire opened the scoring in the second minute, giving Amavubi an early advantage and energizing supporters inside Amahoro Stadium. Leroy-Jacques Mickels added Rwanda’s second goal in the 33rd minute before Liberia’s Sylvanus Nimely reduced the deficit five minutes later. Joy-Lance Mickels restored Rwanda’s two-goal advantage before halftime, completing the scoring at 3–1.
President Kagame attended the match alongside tens of thousands of supporters, according to reporting from the stadium. His presence added national significance to an evening in which Amavubi sought to begin a new chapter in Rwanda’s effort to return to Africa’s premier international football tournament.
The result represents an important opening step rather than qualification itself. Rwanda is competing in Group K alongside Liberia, Mali and Cape Verde, with the qualifying campaign continuing through subsequent international windows. The Confederation of African Football has scheduled the qualification process across several rounds, with the final matches due to be played in March 2027.
Before the opening match, Rwanda international Joy-Lance Mickels had publicly expressed the team’s ambition to reach the continental finals. “Our objective is to qualify for AFCON 2027,” he said while discussing the national team’s preparations. His contribution against Liberia helped translate that ambition into a successful opening result.
The campaign carries particular significance because Rwanda has not appeared at the senior men’s Africa Cup of Nations finals since its historic participation in 2004. That long absence has made qualification a major objective for the national team and its supporters.
The Rwanda Football Federation had prepared the squad through a residential training camp ahead of the opening fixtures, saying the program was designed to strengthen team cohesion and allow the technical staff to refine preparations. FERWAFA confirmed that after hosting Liberia, Amavubi would travel to Praia to face Cape Verde on September 29.
Friday’s victory therefore gives Rwanda a positive foundation as the qualification campaign moves forward. For the supporters who filled Amahoro Stadium and celebrated three home goals, the evening offered renewed hope that Amavubi can mount a sustained campaign for a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after more than two decades away from the tournament.
