Exclusive: Rwanda Star Mugisha Sets Sights on World Cup Qualification After 'Painful' AFCON Letdown

Rwanda international Bonheur Mugisha reveals that his teammates have shifted their focus to securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Amavubi concluded their qualification campaign with an impressive 2-1 comeback victory over Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. However, they fell short of securing a spot in Morocco, losing the ticket to the Benin Republic.

Although they finished level on eight points with the Cheetahs, Torsten Spittler’s men missed out on the second Group D spot, as Gernot Rohr’s side edged them on head-to-head record.

With this, the East Africans fell short in their bid to end a 20-year wait to return to the African football showpiece. Their only AFCON appearance came in Tunisia 2004, where they were eliminated in the group stage alongside hosts Carthage Eagles, Guinea, and DR Congo.

VICTORY OVER NIGERIA OFFERS BITTERSWEET CONSOLATION

The midfielder believes the outcome could have been different if they had managed to avoid defeat against the Libyan national team in their penultimate match.

Despite dominating the game against the Mediterranean Knights in Kigali, Rwanda was defeated 1-0 at the Stade Amahoro due to a late goal by substitute Fahd Saad Mohamed.

Despite the setback, Mugisha asserts that the victory over the star-studded Super Eagles provides some consolation as his team looks to overcome their disappointment.

"It was heartbreaking not to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, especially after our victory over Nigeria. What makes it even more painful is that we ended up level on points with Benin Republic," he told SportsBoom.com.

"Perhaps if we had beaten Libya at home or secured a draw, the outcome would have been completely different.

"It has been a long time since we last qualified for the competition, and we had promised to achieve that this time and make our fans proud. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. We gave it our all, but things just didn’t go as planned.

"The only consolation we have is defeating the Nigerian team, with all their star players, in front of their own fans. We will look to move past this setback, come back stronger, and focus on the challenges ahead."

WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION WITHIN REACH

Rwanda will return to international football on March 16, 2025, as they host three-time African champions Nigeria in a World Cup qualifying match.

Spittler's side is in a strong position, leading a group that includes former African champions South Africa, Benin Republic, and Zimbabwe, with seven points from four matches.

While the Tunisia-based star acknowledges that advancing will be tough, he remains confident in his country’s chances against familiar opponents.

 He added: "Realistically, this won't be easy, but we are ready for the challenge and will do everything we can to qualify. 

"We are currently leading our group, and we will put in all necessary efforts to maintain that lead. One advantage is that two of the teams we faced in the AFCON qualifiers (Benin and Nigeria) are also in our group. We are familiar with their strengths and believe we can replicate our results against them.

"Another advantage is that we have ample time to prepare, which will boost our confidence and drive us to keep fighting. Our primary focus will be to qualify and in this game anything is possible."

The group winner will secure direct qualification for the World Cup, while the runner-up may have the opportunity to compete in the second round for a chance to advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

WHAT LIES AHEAD OF COACH SPITTLER?

German coach Torsten Spittler is nearing the end of his current contract, with negotiations for an extension underway, as confirmed by Rwanda FA president Alphonse Munyantwari.

However, he has yet to comment on whether he intends to extend his contract, sparking concerns about his future.

The 63-year-old succeeded Gerard Buscher in 2023, bringing with him extensive experience as a coach and technical director in countries such as Nepal, Yemen, Sierra Leone, and India.

Spittler has guided Rwanda through 14 international matches, securing six wins, four losses, and four draws.