CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced last week that the winner’s prize money had been raised to $3.5 million, sparking discussions in both nations.
Initially, Egypt and Algeria had pulled out of the tournament, citing scheduling conflicts. However, the substantial prize boost has led both countries to call emergency meetings to reassess their decisions.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is reportedly considering sending its U23 team to participate in the tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Similarly, Algeria is also revisiting its stance and evaluating the possibility of rejoining the competition.
If both countries confirm their participation, the total number of teams in the tournament will rise to 21, promising an even more competitive and dynamic CHAN finals.
CAF’s prize increase has reinvigorated interest in the tournament, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the profile of African football on the global stage.
This marks her third year with the team, and she has once again been selected to be part of the roster for this year’s competitions. She credited her success to the excellent support from her team, which provides everything she needs to train and prepare without any setbacks.
Reflecting on the previous year, Ingabire expressed her pride in participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, a milestone she described as one of her biggest achievements.
Looking ahead to the new year, Ingabire is focused on continuing her strong performance, especially in the World Championship to be held in Rwanda.
“This year, I aim to compete in high-level races. I also want to focus on improving my teamwork skills with my teammates so that we can secure victories together. Personally, I am determined to give my best in the World Championship in Rwanda,” she said.
The World Championship is scheduled to take place in Kigali from September 21 to 28, 2025.
Omedi and Kiwanuka put pen to paper on a two-year deal each today and also watched APR’s 2:0 League game win against Marines FC on Wednesday January 8, 20204 in Rubavu district.
For long, Omedi has been a centre of transfer speculation and Kitara FC Chairman Deo Kasozi confessed the player had over five suitors.
Last month, the forward was rumored to have completed a move to Singapore only for it to fall through when the two parties failed to agree on contractual terms.
Omedi has been a key figure at Kitara FC since joining them two years ago from Booma FC. He helped the team win the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
On the national team, Omedi was instrumental as Uganda Cranes qualified for AFCON 2025, scoring two goals in the campaign. On the other hand, Kiwanuka has been lethal for SC Villa and helped them to win the Uganda Premier League last year.
Interestingly, the duo was today morning named by coach Paul Put in Uganda Cranes provisional squad for CHAN 2024. The move to APR therefore, automatically rules them out of the tournament.
At APR, they become the third Ugandan player joining defensive midfielder Taddeo Lwanga.
Mashami has been coaching the security forces’ team for two and a half years. His dismissal came just four days after Police FC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Rayon Sports, which left the team in fourth place at the end of the first half of the season, trailing league leaders Gikundiro by 13 points.
A source intimated to IGIHE that the club’s management had summoned the coach on Wednesday to discuss the terms of their separation.
Efforts by IGIHE to obtain a statement from Police FC management were unsuccessful, as no response was provided through any available channels.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that unresolved issues persist between the club and Mashami, who still had six months remaining on his contract. This follows his notable achievement of leading Police FC to victory in the Peace Cup in May 2024.
During the last summer transfer window, Police FC made heavy investments, acquiring several high-profile players, including internationals, with the aim of excelling in the CAF Confederation Cup. Despite the efforts, the team was eliminated in the preliminary round.
CAF has confirmed that the seeding for the draw will reflect team performances from the past three CHAN tournaments (2018, 2020, and 2022), ensuring a fair distribution of strength across the groups. The teams have been allocated into three pots based on their recent track records:
{{Pot 1: }} Co-hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania join defending champions Senegal and two-time titleholders Morocco, setting the stage for a competitive top tier.
{{Pot 2:}} Includes strong contenders such as Guinea, Zambia, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Sudan.
{{Pot 3: }} Features rising stars and seasoned challengers, including Mauritania, Niger, Congo, Angola, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This year’s CHAN tournament promises to be historic as it will be the first-ever edition co-hosted by three nations—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The competition, exclusively showcasing players from domestic leagues across Africa, will run from February 1 to February 28, 2025, offering a month of thrilling football action.
The CHAN tournament has become a cornerstone of African football, offering a unique platform for homegrown talents to shine on the continental stage.
Organized by former MTN employees, the tournament took place on Thursday, January 2, 2024, at Kigali Golf Club and attracted participation from other golf enthusiasts. This year’s event saw over 170 players competing across various categories, including beginners, veterans, and seniors.
Rwiyamira secured the top spot among men with 72 points, while Lynda Mugeni claimed victory in the women’s category with 75 points. In the senior category (55 years and above), Joseph Ntambara led with 40 points.
In the top-tier women (handicap 0–18), Lynda Mugeni tied with Alphonsine Murekatete and Stella Matutina at 75 points.
For the beginner women category (handicap 19–36), Nadege Nimbona (46 points) led, followed by Mary Mwangi and Irene Wanjiku at 42 points and 40 points respectively.
In the top-tier men (handicap 0–9), James Muigai and Marcel Byusa emerged with 71 points each while Anton Larsen got 74 points.
Special awards were also given in categories such as long drives and closest-to-the-pin shots as follows.
Longest drive winners were Anton Larsen (men), Melissa Akanigi (women), and Joseph Ntambara (seniors).
Closest-to-the-pin winners were Kenneth Murangira (men), Media Muvuna (women), and Joseph Ntambara (seniors).
MTN has been supporting golf tournaments for nearly 20 years, with the MTN Y’ello Golf Challenge standing out as a flagship event in its sponsorship portfolio.
Since its establishment in 1998 by the Zanzibar Football Federation, the Mapinduzi Cup has been a regional club competition. In 2023, Rwanda’s APR FC participated but was eliminated in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout.
This year, however, the tournament organizers have decided to invite national teams to participate, marking a significant change in the competition’s structure.
The decision to include national teams was made to provide key preparation for Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, the three countries set to co-host CHAN 2024.
The invitation to these teams, including Rwanda, allows them to fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of the continental competition, providing them with valuable game time against high-level opposition.
Other countries invited to the tournament include Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Uganda, and Zanzibar. This represents a unique opportunity for these teams to engage in competitive matches in the build-up to the much-anticipated CHAN tournament.
The Federation of Rwanda Football Associations (FERWAFA) confirmed that the national team, Amavubi, had received an invitation to participate in the Mapinduzi Cup. However, FERWAFA’s General Secretary, Adolphe ‘Camarade’ Kalisa, noted that this tournament had not been part of their original schedule.
As of now, the decision on whether to accept or decline the invitation has not yet been made, with the federation still considering their options.
This continental tournament, which brings together players from domestic leagues across Africa, will be co-hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya next month.
One month before the competition kicks off, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released a list of the 65 referees who will officiate the tournament. Among them are 26 center referees, 25 assistant referees, and 14 VAR officials.
Mutuyimana, who will serve as an assistant referee, is the only Rwandan selected for the 2024 CHAN from those officiating on the field. Another Rwandan, Mukansanga Salima, who is experienced in using VAR technology, is returning after stepping down from her role as a center referee.
He is set to officiate in his second consecutive CHAN tournament after recently attended training sessions for referees ahead of the competition in early December. CHAN 2024 will feature 19 teams, with 17 countries already confirmed, with Rwanda expected to be among the final two teams.
The Rwanda National Football Team, Amavubi, ended their qualification campaign with a win against South Sudan in the final qualifiers. The aggregate score was 4-4 over two legs, with the away-goal rule set to be applied for the final decision.
The two Rwandans join other officials from 40 countries with Morocco having the highest number of 5. Kenya and South Africa have 3 officials each. 18 countries including Rwanda have 2 officials each while the remaining 19 countries have one official each.
Spittler, the German coach appointed to lead the Amavubi in November 2023, signed a one-year contract that expirired on December 31, 2024.
While his tenure has brought significant improvement to the team, including a notable victory over Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, he has yet to sign a new contract. This delay has led to speculations about his future with the team.
Munyantwali addressed the situation in a recent interview with B&B Kigali FM, stating that ongoing discussions between FERWAFA and Spittler are progressing, and a resolution will be reached soon.
“As he has mentioned, he has specific terms for the contract, and considering where we are in terms of progress and remaining games, we are still in talks. It’s early, and we’re not rushing into signing any agreement yet,” Munyantwali said.
The FERWAFA Chief also expressed optimism about finalizing the deal within the coming few days, emphasizing that while financial considerations are a part of the discussion, both sides are keen on finding a suitable arrangement.
He further added that it is essential to continue dialogue to ensure both FERWAFA and Spittler are aligned on the terms before making a final decision.
Though the coach’s future is still uncertain, sources suggest that Spittler, who recently visited Germany for the holiday season, has expressed a desire to take a break from coaching after his contract ends.
Some unconfirmed reports indicate that he is considering stepping away from coaching the Amavubi to focus on personal matters, including potential retirement.
Under Spittler’s leadership, Rwanda’s national team has risen from 130th to 124th in the FIFA rankings and is currently leading the 2026 World Cup qualification group. His victory over Nigeria, where the team triumphed 2-1 in Lagos, has further cemented his reputation and popularity among fans.
While the outcome of the contract negotiations remains pending, Munyantwali is confident that a decision will be made soon and hopes that the coach will continue to lead the Amavubi to greater heights.
The incidents occurred during a Group D Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier played on October 15, 2024, at Amahoro Stadium, where Rwanda’s Amavubi defeated Benin’s Les Guepards 2-1. This victory placed Rwanda third in the group, level on points with Benin.
After the match, Benin players attempted to confront the referees and some members of Rwanda’s coaching staff. Fortunately, security personnel intervened to prevent further escalation.
Following a disciplinary committee meeting at CAF, it was concluded that Benin violated Article 45 of the governing regulations. As a result, the Benin FA was fined $5,000 for general misconduct and an additional $25,000 for aggression against the referees, totaling to $30,000.
Despite the fine, Benin secured qualification for the tournament to be held in Morocco alongside Nigeria, finishing second in the group with eight points, ahead of Rwanda on goal difference.
