World Cup
Rwanda newspaper psyches up new coach, Amrouche ahead of World Cup qualifier with Nigeria
Leading Rwandan newspaper, The New Times has enumerated the challenges and promises that the country’s new coach, Adel Amrouche faces ahead of the impending World Cup qualifying duel with Nigeria in Kigali.
The newspaper writes:
Adel Amrouche, the newly appointed head coach of Rwanda’s national football team, steps into a role laden with both promises and challenges.
Amrouche, 56, brings extensive coaching experience, having previously managed national teams across Africa, including Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania.
However, his task is far from simple—Rwanda’s national team has long been stuck in mediocrity, with little success on the continental stage.
Yet, this is also a time of opportunity, as Amrouche is tasked with building a competitive squad to elevate Rwanda’s football status and perhaps make a historical breakthrough in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
His immediate focus will be preparing the Amavubi for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria (March 17) and Lesotho (March 24) at Amahoro Stadium.
These games are crucial for Rwanda’s qualification hopes and will test Amrouche’s ability to get the best out of a team that, although currently leading its World Cup qualification group, has struggled historically in international competitions.
The Amavubi face a daunting task of overcoming heavyweights like Nigeria and South Africa in their group.
But the 56-year-old, with his vast experience across African football, probably understands the challenges of managing in a high-pressure environment.
He knows that with little time to implement his tactics before these key matches, he will have to rely on the groundwork laid by his predecessor, Torsten Spittler.
Amrouche’s ability to adapt quickly and build on this platform will be critical. Failure to do that, and he also become a statistic before the end of his two-year contract.
Limited resources and high expectations:
One of the key challenges that Amrouche will face is Rwanda’s limited resources, both on and off the pitch.
Unlike powerhouses such as Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, or even Amrouche’s native Algeria, Rwanda’s football infrastructure and financial backing are not on the same level.
The team’s budget is modest, and they do not have the luxury of world-class facilities or top-tier club competitions to draw talent from.
However, Amrouche is no stranger to working with limited resources. He has led teams with fewer advantages, particularly during his time coaching in countries like Burundi and Yemen.
In Rwanda, he will need to maximize the potential of the players at his disposal and instill a sense of discipline, resilience, and tactical acumen to overcome these limitations.
He will have to make the most out of Rwanda’s home-grown talents, focusing on their development and playing to their strengths.
Rwanda’s limited success on the continental level, including their near-miss at qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, also adds pressure on the Algiers-born former midfielder.
The team’s only “major” trophy to date, if you may like, was the 1999 CECAFA Senior Challenge, and they have qualified for the AFCON only once in 2004.
This long history of underachievement makes Amrouche’s task even more daunting.
He must not only push the team to compete at a higher level but also instill a sense of belief and unity within a squad that has often faltered in crucial moments.
Political and mental challenge:
Another challenge for Amrouche will be navigating the political and managerial instability within
Rwanda’s football system.
The country has witnessed one of the highest turnover rates of coaches in African football, with a staggering 24 different coaches in the last three decades.
This high turnover rate is indicative of the impatience that plagues Rwandan football and adds to the pressure on the incoming coach to deliver results quickly. Amrouche must therefore tread carefully. He must hit the ground running.
While he has the technical expertise, he must manage expectations within a football culture where stability is often lacking. Appetite for quick-fix is Amavubi’s Achilles’ heel.
His previous experience with the national teams of Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, and Tanzania shows that he understands how to manage under pressure, but in Rwanda, his ability to foster long-term success will be tested.
In the same breath, FERWAFA must also provide him with the necessary backing to ensure he has the tools to succeed, especially when it comes to the development of players and infrastructure.
Patience is the path to success:
For Amrouche, the long-term goal is clear—he must qualify Rwanda for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and help the Amavubi reach new heights in African football.
To achieve this, he will need to prioritize the development of a strong team chemistry, tactical discipline, and mental fortitude.
His role is not just about game strategies but also about fostering a culture of professionalism and unity within the squad. Spittler succeeded in this areas, and so his successor must.
One of Amrouche’s key strengths will be his ability to scout talent and give younger players a chance to shine. Rwanda has a growing pool of young talent, and Amrouche must build a team that blends experience with youthful energy.
If he can successfully identify and nurture talent, he will lay the foundation for long-term success. Short-term success is needed, and indeed most welcome but the ultimate goal should be on the future.
Amrouche’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Rwanda’s national team. His success will depend on how he navigates the challenges of limited resources, Rwandan football political instability, and high expectations.
If he can strike the right balance and foster a sense of unity within the team, and be able to build on the foundation left by Spittler, Amrouche may finally deliver the success that Rwandan football fans have long yearned for.
It’s possible but only time will tell.
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World Cup
As major global sporting events beckon, Morocco’s monarch launches the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed rail project
As Morocco continues to attract global visitors, especially in the sporting segments, infrastructural development is ongoing.
The latest is the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line (LGV) at Rabat-Agdal train station, paving the way for a new era of ultra-modern rail infrastructure across the country.
The project was launched on Thursday by the monarch, King Mohammed VI. Apart from being a centre of major sporting events, Morocco recently launched a tourism initiative that will make the kingdom the ultimate destination.
The internal transport system is being overhauled. The 430-kilometre project forms part of a $9.6 billion railway development program that will transform the country’s transportation network.
It will be recalled that the 2030 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by Morocco along with Spain and Portugal.
It is the first ever transcontinental edition of the World Cup, which also marks the 100th anniversary of the global championship.
According to information from the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), the Kenitra-Marrakech LGV reflects Morocco’s strategic vision for sustainable development, particularly the promotion of low-carbon collective mobility solutions.
“This project demonstrates Morocco’s firm determination to continue developing the national rail network,” said an official statement during the ceremony, noting the railway’s role as “the backbone of a sustainable and inclusive transport system.”
The high-speed line will connect Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech while serving Rabat and Casablanca airports.
It will drastically reduce travel times, with journeys between Tangier and Rabat taking just one hour, Tangier to Casablanca 1 hour 40 minutes, and Tangier to Marrakech 2 hours 40 minutes — saving over two hours compared to current durations.
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Saudi Arabia would be ready and willing to host a 64-team World Cup in 2034 if FIFA accepts a controversial proposal to expand the tournament from 48, according to the kingdom’s sports minister.
South America’s CONMEBOL has officially suggested staging the centenary 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco with 64 teams, but the idea has been opposed by some other continental confederations.
Next year’s tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will have 48 countries participating, up from 32 in 2022.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal told a select group of reporters at the Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah that his country would have no objection to an increase in the numbers for 2034.
“We’re ready, or we will be ready, inshallah (God willing). If that’s a decision that FIFA takes and thinks that that’s a good decision for everyone, then we’re more than happy to deliver on it,” he said.
He pointed to the infrastructure already in place for Islamic pilgrims, with four million people attending Mecca for Umrah during Ramadan this year and five million expected for the Hajj.
FIFA expected to confirm Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – December 11, 2024 A model of the proposed Roshn Stadium is seen inside the Saudi Arabia World Cup bid exhibition REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
The global soccer governing body officially announced Saudi Arabia as hosts of the 2034 men’s World Cup in December, a bid that was uncontested but strongly criticised by rights organisations.
The Kingdom has invested heavily in sport over the last few years, but critics accuse it of ‘sportswashing’ its human rights record. The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
The bid book pledged 15 stadiums, new or refurbished, by 2032 and which are expected to be completed with the help of migrant labour.
Al-Faisal said worker safety was of the highest priority and Saudi organisers were talking regularly with FIFA and 2022 hosts and neighbours Qatar, the first World Cup in the region, to learn from their experience.
He said the death, reported last month, of a worker at the Aramco Stadium construction site in Al Khobar had come after millions of hours without issue.
“Every incident we take seriously, we file an investigation, we look what went wrong,” said the minister. “Unfortunately, in construction, these things happen.”
He said Saudi Arabia was part of the International Labour Organisation and a 2021 Labour Reform Act had abolished the kafala system that binds migrant workers to one employer and prevents them from leaving without the employer’s approval.
Alcohol, prohibited for observant Muslims, is banned in Saudi Arabia and Al-Faisal confirmed the World Cup would be dry.
“The law now here in Saudi is that there’s no alcohol. Will that change in the future? We don’t know. But I don’t see it really affecting our sporting events at all,” he said.
“We’ve had more than 100 international events so far. We’ve had people come from all over the world to attend these sporting events. And everyone’s happy with the hospitality, the setup, the experience that they get.
“I don’t see it as an issue, to be honest. So I hope it’s not going to be an issue”.
Alcohol was not sold at stadiums in Qatar, where drinking in public is illegal, in 2022 but beer was available at designated fan zones and in some hotels.
-Reuters
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A 64-team World Cup in 2030 should not be considered, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani has said, joining some other confederations in opposing a plan presented by CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez last week officially proposed staging the 2030 World Cup with 64 teams, up from the 48 set to take part in next year’s edition, with the tournament to be hosted largely by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The opening matches will take place in Uruguay, where the first World Cup was hosted in 1930, along with Argentina and Paraguay.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told ESPN, opens new tab.
CONCACAF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The CONMEBOL plan would have a long way to go for approval, with the 48-team 2026 edition already expanded from the 2022 tournament, when 32 countries took part.
The 2026 tournament is set to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table,” said Montagliani.
His comments echoed complaints by UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin, who this month voiced opposition to the idea, and Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who told AFP, opens new tab he fears expansion would lead to chaos.
-Reuters
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