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.
Recognized as a promising young talent, Yangiriyeneza recently showcased his skills in Rwanda’s U-20 Championship, where he scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory against Rutsiro FC.
Following this performance, his academy revealed that he has attracted interest from Portuguese clubs after undergoing trials for the second time.
Yangiriyeneza previously trained with top-tier Portuguese teams G.D. Estoril Praia and Rio Ave F.C., earning recognition from their youth teams.
His academy stated, “Erirohe, who recently turned 18, is being sought by U-19 teams in Portugal after impressive trials and excellent performances for Rwanda’s U-20 National Team. His contract is expected to be finalized soon.”
In addition to Portugal, reports indicate that Moroccan clubs are also keen on signing him, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.
The match, a crucial step in the qualification for next year’s CHAN tournament in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, is scheduled for 6 PM at Amahoro Stadium.
Jimmy Mulisa’s side must overcome a 3-2 loss from the first leg in Juba to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, winning the match alone won’t guarantee Rwanda a spot in the tournament. Coach Mulisa emphasized the importance of performing well, regardless of the circumstances.
“The players must fight for the honour of the national team. We’ve consistently reminded them not to focus on other factors but to do everything possible to secure a win,” the coach said on Friday.
Before the session, Mulisa assured the new Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, who had visited the team, that the players were in good shape, with no issues apart from injuries that had already been addressed with substitutes.
Team captain Muhire Kevin expressed confidence, stating that they are determined to qualify for CHAN and are ready to beat South Sudan, having corrected their previous mistakes.
The Amavubi need to eliminate South Sudan to advance and await CAF’s decision on selecting two replacement teams for Tunisia and Libya, who have withdrawn from the tournament.
Currently, Sudan holds the sole CECAFA region slot in CHAN after winning both legs against Tunisia. However, there is optimism that the region will receive an additional slot following the withdrawal of Arab nations, similar to what happened in 2018.
The event marks a major milestone in the country’s sporting calendar, which will also see Rwanda hosting the World Cycling Championships later in 2025.
The race will take place on Saturday, January 25, and Sunday, January 26, in the scenic Burera and Musanze districts, offering participants the chance to race through some of Rwanda’s most breathtaking landscapes.
The course promises stunning views of the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, as well as the towering Virunga Mountains and five iconic volcanoes: Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Sabyinyo, Mt. Karisimbi, Mt. Bisoke, and Mt. Gahinga.
Participants will have two options for the race: a 110km, two-day race covering the full weekend, or a shorter 50km race on Sunday.
According to the organizers, the race will attract over 100 international competitors from the United States, Australia, and Europe.
The event is supported by the Clarion Welbsy Foundation, which will provide essential kits to local runners, ensuring they are fully equipped to compete.
Alexander Fetherston-Godley, Race Director at Ultra X, was ecstatic about bringing the inaugural Ultra X Rwanda to life.
“The event will showcase Rwanda’s extraordinary beauty and allow our international competitors to experience its warm culture and welcoming people. Most importantly, we want this event to be celebrated as a Rwandan and African race first and foremost, which is why we’ve worked hard to make it accessible to East African participants,” he stated.
UK High Commissioner to Rwanda, Alison Thorpe, also expressed excitement about the race and wished the participants the best of luck.
“This ultramarathon will be an incredible test of athleticism and endurance in some of Rwanda’s most beautiful locations. I wish the runners the best of luck as they race through the land of 1,000 hills!”
She added, “At the British High Commission, we believe sports are fundamental to promoting good health and can be a brilliant driver of economic growth. It is fantastic to see British companies like Ultra X working in Rwanda, and I will be supporting the Rwandan Ministry of Sports and other partners to promote this event and others like it.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Richard Nyirishema, said the event offers athletes a challenging and inspiring course set against Rwanda’s stunning natural backdrop and urged international athletes to enrol for the race.
“This event not only promotes long-distance running but also fosters a spirit of determination, resilience, and sportsmanship among participants. We encourage athletes from all over the world to test their limits and experience the power of sport in Rwanda,” the minister remarked.
Ultra X is a global multi-day ultramarathon series, which hosts trail races in some of the world’s most adventurous and scenic locations.
The series has previously held events in Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Croatia, and its current portfolio spans Rwanda, Tanzania, Scotland, Finland, Slovenia, Wales, England, Jordan, Nevada, Morocco, and Madeira.
In the Rwandan race, Ultra X is collaborating with Tugende, an organization dedicated to promoting well-being and making a positive impact through sport and community.
Interested participants can access the local entry registration [{{here}}->https://tugende.rw/ultraxrwanda/].
Having already served time in detention, the remainder of his sentence will be carried out under house arrest with electronic surveillance. The verdict aligns with the prosecution’s request. His legal representative indicated that an appeal is likely.
“He is in a state of shock. From the outset, he has maintained his innocence. They did not take into account the fact that he has been manipulated, the fact that he has been forced to do things beyond his control,” stated lawyer Mbeko Tabula.
The trial proceeded without the presence of Paul, who is now out of contract and searching for a new club.
The judge instructed Mathias and five other men to face trial following an investigation into whether Paul was subjected to extortion by Mathias and childhood friends in 2022.
Last month, Mathias was put on trial “for the offences of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy.” The five co-defendants demanded 13million euros (£10.7m) from the 31-year-old France player, who was confronted at gunpoint by masked men in March 2022.
The defendants persistently intimidated Paul, asserting that he should have supported them after his rise to international football stardom. They were charged with extortion, abduction and confinement to facilitate a crime, as well as criminal conspiracy.
Roushdane K., the alleged mastermind behind the blackmail, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence. The other defendants also received jail terms.
Court documents reveal that Paul suffered financial losses amounting to 197,000 euros (£164,000) and emotional distress valued at 50,000 euros (£41,000).
All defendants, excluding Mathias, were ordered to collectively pay this sum to the ex-Juventus player. During the investigation, Paul admitted to paying 100,000 euros (£83,000) to the organized group, which included his own brother.
The team retained this spot from the previous rankings released in November 2024, following their strong showing in the Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.
Rwanda’s ranking remains unchanged, holding steady at 1136.06 points.
On the global stage, Argentina remains in the top spot, followed by France, with England and Brazil completing the top four.
In Africa, the leading teams are Morocco (14th), Senegal (17th), Egypt (33rd), Algeria (37th), and Nigeria (44th).
Among Rwanda’s neighboring countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo is ranked 61st, Uganda 88th, Tanzania 106th, Kenya 108th, and Burundi sits in 139th place.
Liberia saw the biggest improvement, gaining 34.47 points and climbing to 142nd place. In contrast, Equatorial Guinea lost 47.53 points, dropping 10 positions to 89th.
Last month, Hong Kong experienced a notable rise in the rankings, largely due to victories over Mongolia and Chinese Taipei, despite a lack of international matches for national teams.
Teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan treated the fans who thronged the host country’s coast region to some exhilarating displays of sporting artistry.
The games were officially opened by Kenya’s President, William Ruto in the presence speakers from the region’s various parliaments, ambassadors and sponsors including Mchezo Limited Managing Director Ntoudi Mouyelo at a colorful procession that snaked the city and terminated at the Mama Ngina Drive tourist site.
Once again Uganda, who have won the overall title in the last two editions of the games maintained their championship slot, having clinched the most gold medals in various field and track events.
They were closely followed by Kenya while Tanzania was third. Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan took the fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively.
One of the most interesting facets of the games was the accolade of the active athletes bestowed to non-other than the EALA delegation Chairman Kanini Kega who took part in most of the events including volleyball and golf.
Kega represented the Mchezo-sponsored EALA volleyball team, athletics, football among other disciplines and was feted for his never-say-never attitude towards sports.
Athletics was one of the sports that produced thrills and spills, by and large, the 100m men’ s and women. The winner in the women’s 100m race was Acom Joan Alobo of Uganda. Alobo is in the 11th Parliament of Uganda as the Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament.
She beat Omanyo Catherine of Kenya and Sichalwe Condesta of Tanzania to a scintillating podium dash.
The men’s 100m race was won by Odoi Bernard Onen of Uganda who beat Ochan Patrick – Uganda and Vincent Musyoka (Kenya) to the podium.
Another sport that enthralled regional fans was Tug of War in which Female MPs from Kenya came third behind gold medalists Uganda and Tanzania. In the Male category flamboyant MPs from Uganda took gold followed by Tanzania and Kenya.
Football men’s accolades went to Uganda (gold), Tanzania (silver), Burundi (bronze) whilst Rwanda took the accolade of the Most Disciplined Team.
Wheelchair Darts was also a crowd pleaser. In the ladies’ category Museo Rose of Kenya took the top honors ahead of Uganda’s Kanushu Laura.
In the Men’s Wheelchair Darts, it was a Kenyan 1-2 finish led by Koskei Bishop and Tim Wanyonyi whilst Bahati Alex of EALA came third.
Speaking on behalf of Mchezo Managing Director Ntoudi Mouyelo on Tuesday December 17, 2024, Mercy Mugao extended heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of Kenya, and especially Mombasa County, for successfully hosting this prestigious event.
“Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed incredible talent and unwavering passion across various disciplines. In sports, there are moments of victory and opportunities to learn and grow,” Mugao said.
“To all the winners, congratulations! For those who didn’t secure victory this time, I trust valuable lessons were gained to fuel future success,” she added. Mugao also commended the Government of Kenya for hosting a seamlessly organized event.
“At Mchezo, we are deeply committed to advancing the sports industry in East Africa and beyond through strategic partnerships that drive growth, innovation, and impact. Our focus is threefold: Invest, Innovate, and Inclusion. These games are more than just competitions—they are a catalyst for regional cohesion, trade, and economic development,” she explained.
{{Other Award winners included;}}
In Golf Dickson Kateshumbwa (longest drive Man), Mary Maingi (ongest drive female), Thomas Tayebwa (nearest to the pin Man), Caleb Mule (best man overall), Mary Maingi (Best female overall).
Ugandan female team was the overall winner while for the male team, Kenya was the overall winning team.
In Basketball, Uganda’s Mwine Mpaka emerged MVP for Men while Esther Matiko was the MVP for ladies. In Netball, Sarah Kayagi Netalisile emerged the MVP as Uganda ecame the overall champion in netball.
In Football, Amollo Paul Otiende was the most outstanding player while women volleyball, Jesca Kishoa was the MVP Muhakwa Valens was the MVP in the men’s category. Kanini Kega was recognized as the most active player in the competitions.
Barcelona midfielder Bonmatí was voted The Best FIFA Women’s Player for the second time in a row after the 26-year-old followed up her World Cup-winning year with another trophy-laden 12 months for club and country.
“I am grateful to receive this award. As I always say, this is a team effort. It was a great year, very difficult to repeat. I am grateful to the people who help me to be better every day, from the club, to my teammates, who always help me to be better,” said Bonmatí, who won a domestic treble and the UEFA Women’s Champions League with the Catalan giants in 2024.
Vinícius Júnior scored Real Madrid’s second goal in the final, one of 24 strikes in 39 competitive club appearances in the 2023-24 season, as the Spanish club claimed a record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title in June.
He was also part of the Brazil squad that reached the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América quarter-finals in the USA and added the La Liga title, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Super Cup to the European crown en route to succeeding FIFA World Cup 2022™ winner Lionel Messi as The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
“I don’t even know where to begin. It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who only played football barefoot on the streets of São Gonçalo, close to poverty and crime. Getting here is something very important to me,” Vinícius said.
“I’m doing it for many children who think that everything is impossible and who think they can’t get here,” added the 24-year-old after receiving the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a gala dinner to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 final, where Real Madrid will encounter Mexican side CF Pachuca.
Like the two main individual honours, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper awards were decided by a vote equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams and media representatives.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who was runner-up two editions ago, was presented with The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award. Ancelotti started as a professional player in 1976.
Meanwhile Emma Hayes was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2024. Hayes led the US women’s national team to Olympic gold at Paris 2024 just weeks after crowning her 12-year stint at Chelsea with the English domestic league title.
Aston Villa and Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez came out on top in the vote for The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, winning the award for the second time, following his triumph in the 2022 edition, largely on the back of his major role in his country’s run to 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América glory.
Placing third in 2020, Alyssa Naeher was crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper. Her saves, notably in the semi-final shoot-out win against Germany, helped to propel the United States women’s national team to Olympic gold.
The Chicago Red Stars player also stood out as her country won the inaugural 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup and her club reached the US National Women’s Soccer League play-offs.
Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award, which honour the best goals scored in women’s and men’s football, respectively, was split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.
Brazil’s Marta won the inaugural award bearing her name for the last of her 119 international strikes while Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskás Award for his sensational overhead kick against Everton in the Premier League in November 2023.
The winner of the FIFA Fan Award, based entirely on the votes of registered users of FIFA.com is Guilherme Gandra Moura. A devoted fan of Vasco da Gama, the young Brazilian suffers from a rare genetic condition known as epidermolysis bullosa.
He was placed into a coma after falling ill with pneumonia, waking 16 days later, and the touching video of his reunion with his mother went viral. He was helped in his recovery by Vasco da Gama’s then-star player Gabriel Pec. He met the team and was chosen as mascot for a match in August 2023 after having left hospital.
Internacional’s Thiago Maia earned the FIFA Fair Play Award, which was decided upon by an expert panel, for his efforts to help people suffering in the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil after it was hit by devastating floods in late April and early May 2024.
For the first time, fans participated in the vote for The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11, choosing from a list of 77 nominees for each line-up, with their choices weighted equally with those of an expert panel.
{{The Best FIFA Men’s 11 2024:}} Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Argentina), Rúben Dias (Manchester City/Portugal), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid/Germany), William Saliba (Arsenal/France), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Spain), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany), Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil)
