Rwanda to Face Algeria in Friendly Match as Part of 2026 World Cup Preparations

As Rwanda intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the national team, Amavubi, is scheduled to play a friendly match against Algeria on June 5, 2025.

Adel Amrouche, the Algerian-born coach leading Rwanda’s national team, recently announced that by the end of June, he aims to have played at least two or three friendly matches. His goal is to help his players build stronger chemistry and improve team coordination ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifying matches.

Amrouche has hinted that fans should expect to see new faces added to the squad, particularly players who perform well during these friendly games. The coach emphasized that giving opportunities to emerging talents is essential to strengthening the team’s competitiveness.

Under Amrouche’s leadership so far, Rwanda has had mixed results. In his first two matches, the Amavubi struggled to secure victories at home in Kigali. On March 21, 2025, Rwanda suffered a 2-0 defeat against Nigeria, followed by a 1-1 draw with Lesotho on March 25.

These results have left Rwanda in second place in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, with eight points. South Africa leads the group with 13 points, while Benin is tied with Rwanda at eight points, and Nigeria closely follows with nine points. Lesotho is at the bottom with six points. The standings highlight just how competitive Group C has become, with several teams still in strong contention for qualification.

Looking ahead, Rwanda is set for a crucial away match against Nigeria on September 1, 2025, in the return leg. This game is expected to be vital for Rwanda’s hopes of securing a spot in the World Cup.

The upcoming friendly against Algeria provides a valuable opportunity for Amavubi to rebuild confidence, test new strategies, and fine-tune the squad before resuming their World Cup qualifying campaign.