The Office of the President confirmed the visit in a statement released on April 30, noting that the President attended the fixture featuring two of Rwanda’s primary “Visit Rwanda” partners.
Upon his arrival at the stadium, President Kagame was received by Atlético Madrid President Enrique Cerezo Torres.
The match remained a tightly contested affair throughout both halves. Arsenal took the lead just before the interval when Viktor Gyökeres converted a 44th-minute penalty following a foul by Atlético defender Dávid Hancko.
President Kagame attends UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between #VisitRwanda partners Arsenal FC and Atlético Madrid FC. pic.twitter.com/NbkF4AqxZM
— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) April 30, 2026
Atlético Madrid found their response in the 56th minute after a handball by Arsenal’s Ben White led to a penalty, which Julián Álvarez successfully converted to level the score.
Both clubs maintain partnerships with Rwanda under the “Visit Rwanda” initiative, which promotes the country’s tourism and investment potential globally.
The partnership with Atlético Madrid, which runs from 2025 to 2028, includes branding at the club’s stadium and on training kits, as well as technical cooperation such as coaching development programs.
Meanwhile, the relationship with Arsenal has spanned eight years, featuring the “Visit Rwanda” logo on the club’s shirt sleeves and various promotional activities at Emirates Stadium, including player visits to Rwanda’s key tourism sites.
The result leaves the tie balanced ahead of the return leg, which is scheduled for May 5, 2026, at Emirates Stadium in London.
The latest appearance follows President Kagame’s attendance at another high-profile UEFA Champions League semi-final earlier in the week at the Parc des Princes in Paris, where Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich in a 5-4 encounter.
Leave a Reply