Rwanda’s Amavubi will host Liberia’s Lone Star on Friday, September 25, in their opening match of the campaign to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Group K encounter will be played at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m. local time. The group also includes Mali and Cape Verde, who will face each other on the same day.
Rwanda holds the edge in recent record
Rwanda currently sits 128th in the FIFA world rankings, 12 places above Liberia, which is ranked 140th.
In their last 10 matches, Rwanda has recorded three wins, one draw and six defeats, scoring eight goals and conceding 12. Liberia has won three, drawn three and lost four during the same period, scoring 13 goals and conceding 15.
The home and away records provide a different picture. Rwanda has won five, drawn two and lost three of its last 10 home matches, while Liberia has won only once, drawn twice and lost seven of its last 10 away games.
The two sides last met on September 8, 2007, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Rwanda won 4-0 at Amahoro Stadium, with goals from Bokota Labama, Said Makasi, Jeannot Witakenge and Olivier Karekezi.
Liberia had won the previous meeting 3-2 on home soil in 2006.
Players to watch
Rwanda will look to several players with international and club experience, including Joy-Lance Mickels of Azerbaijan’s Sabah FK.
The forward is set to feature in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with Rwanda for the first time. He has yet to score for the national team but is among the players expected to play a significant role in the attack.
His younger brother, Leroy-Jacques Mickels, is another player to watch. The 31-year-old midfielder plays for German third-tier club Waldhof Mannheim and recently helped Rwanda win the FIFA Series after scoring twice in two matches.
Captain Djihad Bizimana is expected to provide experience in midfield, alongside Mugisha Bonheur, known as ‘Casemiro’, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hazem. Defender Mutsinzi Ange of Azerbaijan’s Zira FK is another key option in the squad.
Liberia also has several players with experience in European and Middle Eastern leagues.
Defender Sampson Dweh plays for Czech club Viktoria Plzeň, which is competing in the UEFA Europa League. Midfielder Oscar Dorley is with Saudi Arabian side Al Taawoun, while Mo Sangare plays for Tunisia’s Étoile Sportive du Sahel.
Other players in the Liberian squad include defender Emmanuel Fully of Czech club SK Artis Brno and forward Ayoub Kosia of Serbian side FK Radnik Surdulica.
Emmanuel Flomo, who plays for Al Hilal SC Omdurman in the Rwandan Premier League, was also added to the squad after replacing Joseph Melto Quiah. Flomo was named the league’s best young player last season.
Constantine faces familiar opponent
Rwanda’s head coach Stephen Constantine was appointed in March 2026, returning to a team he previously managed between 2014 and 2015.
During his earlier tenure, Constantine helped Rwanda reach 68th in the FIFA rankings, the country’s highest position in the history of the ranking.
Since returning, Constantine has overseen two matches, winning both without conceding. Rwanda scored six goals across those games and also won the FIFA Series tournament.
Liberia is coached by Moroccan Mohammed Adil Erradi, who took charge in May 2026.
Erradi has managed two matches with Liberia, recording one victory and one defeat. His teams have scored three goals and conceded two.
The coach is familiar with Rwandan football, having spent three years coaching APR FC. He also knows several players in the current Amavubi squad, either from his time at APR or through their involvement in Rwandan football.
Constantine has said Erradi’s familiarity with his players will not be a major concern and that he has specific tactical plans for the encounter.
Both teams are scheduled to hold their final training sessions on Thursday ahead of Friday’s qualifier, with the coaches expected to provide further details about their preparations during their respective pre-match media briefings.
