Rwanda include three USA-based stars in 30-man Amavubi killer squad for Nigeria, Libya AFCON qualifiers

The Rwanda Football Federation has released a 30-man squad for the upcoming 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Libya, Soccernet.ng reports.

With only the top two teams in each group qualifying for Morocco 2025, third-placed Amavubi face a difficult challenge to overtake one of Nigeria or Benin in the standings.

To achieve that objective, Rwanda’s head coach, Frank Spittler, revealed his squad list on Wednesday morning, with a strong home-based presence.

Seventeen players from the country's domestic leagues are joined by four others from various African clubs, while nine foreign-based players round out the team.

The overseas-based players in the squad are Djihad Bizimana (Kryvbas FC, Ukraine), Abdul Rwatubyaye (AP Brera Strumica, Macedonia), Clement Twizere Buhake (Ull/Kisa, Norway), Emmanuel Imanishimwe (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Rubanguka (Al-Nojoom, Saudi Arabia), Samuel Gueulette (La Louvière, Belgium), Jojea Kwizera (Rhode Island FC, United States), Innocent Nshuti (One Knoxville SC, United States), and Kavita Mabaya (Birmingham Legion FC, United States).

The Rwandans are set to meet Libya in their Matchday 5 fixture before travelling to Nigeria, where they will play their final group match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

To have any chance of advancing to the AFCON finals, Rwanda will need positive results in both matches.

The Amavubi have only reached the AFCON finals once before, in 2004, when they made a group-stage exit despite a solid performance of one win, one draw, and one loss.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s caretaker coach, Austin Eguavoen, has reportedly submitted his final squad list to the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the critical upcoming games.

The Super Eagles, runners-up at the 2023 AFCON, are currently top of the group with ten points and need just a draw against the Benin Republic to secure qualification.

Their penultimate match against Benin is scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, with kickoff at 8 pm Nigeria time, while their final group encounter with Rwanda is set for November 18 in Uyo.