On Sunday, March 15, 2026, a letter from the City of Kigali circulated, asking AS Kigali to make a decision on whether to dissolve and merge with other teams supported by the city, namely Kiyovu Sports and Gasogi United.
At the time, Kiyovu Sports spokesperson Minani Hemed stated that the plan had been poorly considered and that it would erase the history of the club’s establishment.
Gasogi United also expressed its opposition, claiming that such a merger was not feasible.
Speaking to Radio Rwanda, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, spokesperson for Kigali City, stated that if the teams refuse to merge, the city will stop its support for them.
“If these teams [AS Kigali, Kiyovu, and Gasogi] fail to merge and decide to continue separately, the city will stop providing its support. However, we are still awaiting their response,” she noted.
The teams have been given a deadline of March 30, 2026, to notify Kigali City of their decision.
She added, “If all of them refuse, we plan to start with a new team and build it from the ground up. If they agree to merge, we will continue together in the top league.”
Kigali City emphasizes that the goal of merging these teams is to pool resources and help the new team become stronger and more competitive in fighting for trophies.
Kigali City spokesperson, Emma Claudine Ntirenganya speaking to the press at a past event. The City of Kigali has proposed the merger of AS Kigali and Kiyovu Sports
On Sunday, March 15, 2026, the final leg of the “WRC Safari Rally 2026” took place in Naivasha, Kenya. Two Rwandan cars completed the race, out of the four representing the country in the event.
The final day was challenging for Davite Giancarlo and Yoto Fabrice, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4 D, as they retired from the race after Stage 17 of 20 in the four-day event.
Christian Kanangire and Kevin Shyaka were the only remaining Rwandan duo in the competition, and they performed exceptionally well, finishing third in the second category of the African Rally Championship (ARC).
This marks a historic achievement, as it is the first time a Rwandan driver has participated in and completed a WRC event. In 2023, Giancarlo Davite took part in the WRC Safari Rally in Kenya but did not finish, despite competing alongside Sylvia Vindevogel in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 (R5) in the WRC2 category.
Kanangire said that the rally was tough, but the key to their success was perseverance and pride in representing Rwanda.
“The rally was extremely challenging, and we thank God we were able to finish. I believe you can see that just finishing was an achievement in itself, and we ended up in a great position in our category. We could have finished first, but we encountered some issues, and we are proud that Rwanda’s flag was raised in a positive position,” he said.
This international rally driver placed ninth in the first category of the African Rally Championship (ARC), which was won by Kenya’s Patel Karan, and finished 27th in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
Christian Kanangire and Kevin Shyaka were the only remaining Rwandan duo in the competition, and they performed exceptionally well.Kanangire and Shyaka finish strong in the WRC Safari Rally 2026, finishing 27th in the overall competition.Christian Kanangire alongside co-driver Shyaka Kevin in a Subaru Impreza WRX STi after the final leg. Kevin Shyaka was a co-driver of Kanangire throughout the race.
France’s Adrien Fourmaux finished second, delivering Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT its first podium of the season, while Toyota’s rising star Sami Pajari completed the podium in third. Katsuta’s breakthrough triumph propels him to second in the championship standings, just three points behind leader Elfyn Evans, who retired on Saturday following suspension damage.
Triumph amid chaos
The rally was full of challenges from the start. Heavy rains during the opening Camp Moran stage caused Katsuta’s intercom to fail, leaving him without pace notes from Johnston. A puncture on Friday dropped the Japanese driver to seventh overall overnight.
The race was hit by heavy rains, forcing drivers to battle through mud.
Katsuta steadily climbed the leaderboard on Saturday’s punishing gravel stages, taking advantage of troubles faced by his competitors. Championship leader Elfyn Evans suffered two punctures and eventual rear suspension failure, forcing him to retire. Rising star Oliver Solberg and eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier also retired with mechanical issues, handing Katsuta the rally lead.
Starting Sunday’s final leg with a 1-minute 25-second advantage, Katsuta carefully managed the rough terrain of Oserengoni and Hell’s Gate to secure victory.
“I don’t know what to say. We have faced so many difficult moments. Aaron has worked very hard with me, and the team always believed in me even when I was struggling. I’m here because of them and Aaron,” Katsuta said, emotionally overwhelmed at the finish.
Kenyan President William Ruto was present at the finish to personally present Katsuta with the winner’s trophy.
Podium and other highlights
Fourmaux delivered a composed drive to secure second overall despite Hyundai battling severe overheating issues. Pajari, despite suffering a tyre explosion and another puncture on Saturday morning, guided his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 to a solid third-place finish.
Esapekka Lappi finished fourth after adopting a cautious approach across the demanding Kenyan stages. Meanwhile, Robert Virves claimed the WRC2 category victory on his first Kenyan appearance, beating Gus Greensmith by 30.3 seconds, with Paraguay’s Fau Zaldívar rounding out the podium.
Kenyan President William Ruto was present at the finish to personally present Katsuta with the winner’s trophy.
Rwanda was represented by four crews, with notable performances. Christian Kanangire and Kevin Shyaka, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi, finished as the top-performing Rwandan team, placing 27th overall after showing remarkable consistency through the final Hell’s Gate stages.
Queen Kalimpinya made history as the first Rwandan woman to compete in the WRC Safari Rally. Despite a technical setback that ruled her car out of the ARC classification, she continued in the national category and showcased resilience to reach the final stages alongside co-driver Olivier Ngabo.
Co-driven by Aaron Johnston, Katsuta sealed the win by 27.4 seconds, ending years of near misses in his pursuit of a WRC crown.
The final, held at the IPRC Kigali Ecology Tennis Court, was also attended by Rwanda Development Board CEO Jean-Guy Afrika, State Minister in the Ministry of Sports Rwego Ngarambe, French Ambassador Aurélie Royet-Gounin, and Rwanda Tennis Federation President Karenzi Théoneste.
After dropping the first set 4-6, Trungelliti bounced back in the second set, dominating 6-0 as Cecchinato appeared to struggle with a shoulder issue. The Argentine secured the title by winning the third set 6-3. This marks Trungelliti’s second appearance in Kigali, having reached the final of the ATP Challenger 50 in 2024.
“This tournament showcases Rwanda as a growing hub for professional tennis in Africa,” said Karenzi Théoneste.
After dropping the first set 4-6, Trungelliti bounced back in the second set.
Earlier in the week, Trungelliti, 36, reached the final by defeating Czech player Zdenek Kolar 6-3, 6-3, while Cecchinato advanced by beating second seed Arthur Géa of France 6-3, 6-4.
The Kigali tournaments form part of the African Tennis Tour, with the ATP Challenger 75 held in the first week and ATP Challenger 100 in the second. Rwanda has hosted back-to-back editions since 2025, following its debut in 2024 with an ATP Challenger 50.
The first week’s ATP Challenger 75 concluded on March 8, with 20-year-old Austrian Joel Schwaerzler defeating Italian Stefano Napolitano 7-6(5), 7-6(6) to claim the title. American Jay Clarke and Dutch player Max Houkes won the doubles in a thrilling 2-1 final against Siddhant Banthia (India) and Alexander Donski (Bulgaria).
Italy’s Marco Cecchinato took the opening set on Sunday in the ATP Challenger 100 final in Kigali but eventually lost to Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti.
This week, Serbian Stefan Latinović and Frenchman Luka Pavlović took the doubles title, defeating Donski and Banthia 7-6(5), 7-6(2). Two Rwandan players, Ishimwe Claude and Niyigena Étienne, received wildcards into the main draws but were eliminated in the early rounds.
Over 40 players from across the globe competed in Kigali, including participants from Argentina, Austria, Burundi, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, the UK, and the US.
Trungelliti, ranked 132 in the world, was the highest-ranked player, followed by Arthur Gea (161) and Luka Mikrut (165). Several players who competed at the Australian Open in January 2026, including Trungelliti, Gea, Mikrut, Roberto Carballes Baena, Jay Clarke, Zdenek Kolar, Jérôme Kym, and Marco Cecchinato, were in Kigali for the Rwanda Challenger 2026.
The ATP Challenger circuit has produced many of the sport’s top names, including world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and former world No. 1s Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, and Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion.
Rwanda has hosted the ATP Challenger tournament for the third consecutive year.President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame attended the match.Rwanda Development Board CEO Jean-Guy Afrika (left) was also present.
Among them, two crews are competing in the ARC2 category of the African Rally Championship (ARC), while one crew is taking part in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).
The four-day rally counts simultaneously toward the World Rally Championship (WRC), the African Rally Championship, and the Kenyan national championship, with competitors contesting different categories within the same event.
Some of the drivers representing Rwanda at the WRC Safari Rally 2026 in Kenya.
Strong early showing
After the opening two stages, Kanangire Christian and Giancarlo Davite were placed 21st overall out of 40 competing cars, a result that positioned the Rwandan representatives well heading into the following stages.
In the ARC2 category, Giancarlo Davite, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4D alongside co-driver Yoto Fabrice, ended Friday’s action in first place. They were closely followed by fellow Rwandan crew Kanangire Christian and Shyaka Kevin, also competing in a Subaru Impreza WRX STi.
The WRC Safari Rally is among the world’s most prominent motorsport events.
Positions shift on Saturday
However, results from the Saturday stages (March 14) saw both crews lose ground. Kanangire Christian and Shyaka Kevin fell to third place in the ARC2 standings, while Giancarlo Davite and Yoto Fabrice dropped to seventh, the last position in the category.
The two Rwandan crews now trail Oscar Ntambi of Uganda and Evans Nzioka of Kenya in the ARC2 classification.
In the overall African competitors’ standings, Kanangire and Shyaka currently sit ninth, while Davite and Yoto occupy 17th place.
Three Rwandan crews remain in the rally.
Kalimpinya moves to Kenyan championship category
On the first day of the rally, the car driven by Queen Kalimpinya and Ngabo Olivier, a Subaru Impreza WRX STi, was excluded from the African Rally Championship classification after failing to meet certain technical requirements, particularly regarding the fuel tank installation.
As a result, the crew continued their participation under the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) category, where they are currently sixth with their Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4D R4.
Another Rwandan entry, driven by Gakwaya Jean Claude and Mugabo Jean Claude, retired from the rally before completing any stage.
Kanangire Christian is faring well in the ARC2 category of the African Rally Championship.
Overall rally standings
In the overall rally standings, the event is currently led by Takamoto Katsuta of Japan, alongside Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, driving a Toyota GR Yaris, with a total elapsed time of 2 hours and 41 minutes.
The final day of the rally, scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, will feature four stages covering a total distance of 57.1 kilometres.
Some stages were postponed due to heavy rain.Slippery roads challenged competitors on the third day of the WRC Safari Rally.Kalimpinya is competing in the Kenya National Rally Championship.Giancarlo Davite is driving alongside co-driver Yoto Fabrice.The WRC Safari Rally is among the world’s most prominent motorsport events.
FUFA announced the punitive measures following an investigation into a match played on December 21, 2024, in which Kitara FC defeated Express FC 7–0.
The suspended individuals include Mike Mutyaba, a former player for Uganda Cranes, Ivan Katende, a former FUFA staff member, Ashiraf Miiro, the Chief Executive Officer of Express FC, and two players —Emmanuel Kalyowa and Ashiraf Mbaziira.
FUFA’s Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee revealed that the match was reportedly fixed for betting purposes.
“After the match, FUFA was informed by FIFA via a betting report that the game had been fixed for betting purposes, with prior knowledge that Express FC would lose and concede at least five goals,” FUFA said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Mutyaba coordinated the fix with Katende, who has previously been implicated in match-fixing cases. Mutyaba reportedly introduced Katende to Express FC CEO Miiro, and the three conspired to manipulate the match outcome.
Evidence shows that Ugandan betting accounts linked to Katende won millions of shillings at a Tanzanian-based betting company, which later blocked the payments after detecting fraud.
The inquiry also points to the involvement of players Kalyowa and Mbazira, who were allegedly recruited by Mutyaba to execute the fix on the field. Mutyaba assumed technical responsibilities for the team during the match due to the absence of head coach Kaddu Badru.
FUFA has formally engaged the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the process remains ongoing.
“FUFA remains committed to protecting the integrity of football in Uganda by fighting all forms of match manipulation,” the federation said in a statement.
The suspended individuals include Mike Mutyaba, a former player for Uganda Cranes.Preliminary investigations suggest that Mutyaba coordinated the fix with Katende, who has previously been implicated in match-fixing cases.
In a statement released on Thursday, the federation highlighted that the appointment ‘reflects Rwanda’s continued commitment to strengthening football structures and achieving excellence on the continental and global stage’.
Coach Constantine is set to take charge of the Amavubi squad on Monday, March 16, 2026, and will immediately begin preparations with the existing team ahead of the FIFA Series Tournament scheduled later this month in Kigali City.
FERWAFA announced that further details regarding technical plans, strategic objectives, and the roadmap for the teams will be shared during an official press conference planned for next week.
Stephen Constantine previously served as the team’s head coach between 2014 and 2015 before leaving to take charge of the India national football team.
During his earlier stint with Amavubi, Constantine had been tasked with preparing the team for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which was hosted in Rwanda. After his departure, Rwanda went on to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
He returns to Rwanda at a time when the country is ranked 131st in the FIFA rankings, compared with 68th when he left the role, the highest position Rwanda has ever achieved in its history. During his tenure, Amavubi remained unbeaten at home.
In the seven matches played during that period, the team lost only one, against Congo national football team, while drawing two games against Burundi national football team and Morocco national football team.
In 2025, Constantine expressed his continued appreciation for Rwanda after defeating Nigeria national football team on their home ground. He described Rwanda as a country that has made progress in football with talented players.
Stephen Constantine has been confirmed as new Amavubi head coach.
The match was played at PSG’s home stadium, Parc des Princes.
“This evening in Paris, President Kagame attended the UEFA Champions League match at Parc des Princes, where Visit Rwanda partner Paris Saint-Germain secured a 5–2 victory over Chelsea FC,” the Office of the President said in a post on X.
The partnership between Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain was first signed in 2019 and renewed in 2025, extending the agreement until 2028.
Under the deal, PSG promotes the Visit Rwanda brand at its home ground, Parc des Princes, and on the club’s training kits.
Since the partnership began, millions of football fans around the world have gained greater awareness of Rwanda through media coverage and the visibility of the Visit Rwanda brand.
Through the collaboration, more than 400 children have also received football training through PSG Academy Rwanda, established by the French club in Rwanda.
Each year, the club sends players and legends to Rwanda to visit the country’s tourist attractions and share their experiences with global audiences.
The latest visitors were Océane Nathalie Toussaint Dit Marseille, Baby Jordy Benera, and Jade Le Guilly, members of the Paris Saint-Germain Féminine, who visited Rwanda in late February this year.
According to the Rwanda Development Board, the continued partnership helps position Rwanda as a global tourism destination, with further exposure expected as the Visit Rwanda brand appears on training kits worn by PSG youth teams in the United States.
President Kagame was welcomed by senior officials from Paris Saint-Germain.The match ended with PSG defeating Chelsea 5–2.
Infantino said on social media that he met Trump on Tuesday evening to discuss preparations for the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June to July.
“This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,” Infantino wrote.
He added that the two also discussed the current situation in Iran and the fact that the Iranian team has already qualified for the tournament.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said. “We all need an event like FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever.”
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated after military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, raising uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the tournament.
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s Football Federation, had said last week that Iran could not be optimistic about participating in the World Cup under the current circumstances.
According to the draw, Iran is placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, with all three of its group-stage matches scheduled to be played in the United States.
Iran have qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup
Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi, were “moved to a safe location” by Australian police.
He added that other team members had been told they were welcome to remain in the country.
“They want to be clear they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe,” Burke said, noting that discussions with the players had been ongoing for several days.
The decision came amid concerns for the women’s safety after facing heavy criticism in Iran, where some commentators labelled them “wartime traitors.”
Australian police escorted the players during their stay, ensuring they could not be approached unaccompanied.
Burke emphasised Australia’s open offer to the rest of the team, saying, “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts. These women are tremendously popular in Australia.”
The situation also drew attention from US President Donald Trump, who called on Australia to provide asylum and later confirmed the five had been “taken care of.”
During the tournament, the players sang the anthem in subsequent matches against Australia and the Philippines, reportedly under the watch of government officials.
Many supporters in Australia, including members of the Iranian diaspora, expressed solidarity with the team, waving pre-revolution Lion and Sun flags and booing the current Iranian anthem.
Human rights advocates highlighted the difficult position faced by the players, noting some may feel unable to stay due to concern for their families back home.
Craig Foster, former captain of the Australian men’s team, said, “Some may have concerns… even if offered the right to remain in Australia, if they feel unsafe, many may not accept that opportunity.”
The five players are now under Australia’s humanitarian visa program, which allows them to live, work, and study safely in the country.
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
