Rwanda national football team head coach Stephen Constantine has praised life in Kigali, describing Rwanda as the cleanest country he has ever visited. He has also outlined his ambitions for Amavubi, discussed football development in the country and shared his long-term dream of coaching in England.
In an interview with Goal published on November 11, 2026, the 64-year-old coach reflected on his experience living in Rwanda, the progress of Rwandan football and his future aspirations. Having previously coached in countries including India, Nepal, Malawi, Sudan and Pakistan, Constantine said Rwanda stands out for its cleanliness and the welcoming nature of its people. He praised the country’s monthly Umuganda community service programme, noting that residents actively participate in cleaning their neighbourhoods. He recalled travelling for three hours from Kigali to one of Rwanda’s national parks without seeing litter along the roads or in the villages he passed.
The coach described Kigali as a beautiful city built on rolling hills, adding that its residents are friendly and hospitable. He also noted that although salaries may be lower than in some countries, the cost of living is relatively affordable compared with the United Kingdom. According to him, housing and dining costs are reasonable, making Rwanda a comfortable place to live and work. Constantine also revealed that he has started learning Kinyarwanda, attending lessons twice a week. He believes understanding the local language and culture is important for anyone working in the country. Although he admitted that Kinyarwanda is challenging to learn, he said he has already mastered greetings such as “Mwaramutse” and “Mwiriwe”.
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Amavubi Target AFCON 2027 Qualification
Turning to football, Constantine said his immediate objective is to guide Amavubi back to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027. Rwanda has not participated in the tournament for more than two decades, and the coach believes the current team has a realistic opportunity to end that long absence. He pointed to improvements in Rwanda’s FIFA ranking as evidence of progress. Constantine noted that Rwanda was ranked 64th in the world during his first spell in charge in 2014 before dropping significantly in subsequent years. The country has recently climbed back to 119th place.
The coach explained that Amavubi need four more points to strengthen their qualification hopes but cautioned that four difficult matches remain. He emphasised that qualification has not yet been secured and urged supporters not to become overconfident. Constantine also recalled a light-hearted moment following Rwanda’s victory over Cape Verde. He said journalists told him that Amavubi were already on course for qualification, prompting him to respond in Kinyarwanda: “Doza!”, meaning “Calm down”. The phrase quickly became a popular headline in local media.
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Football Development Taking Shape
Constantine said youth development is a central pillar of his strategy for Rwandan football. He revealed that his relative, Nicholas de-Long, was brought in to monitor progress among youth teams, while scouting structures have been strengthened to identify new talent both inside and outside Rwanda. The coach welcomed the recent qualification of Rwanda’s Under-17 national team for the Africa Cup of Nations and highlighted the progress made by the Under-23 team, which advanced to the second stage of Olympic qualifying.
He also explained that national teams across different age groups are increasingly adopting a common playing style, largely based on a 4-4-2 formation. The approach is intended to establish a distinct football identity for Rwanda and ensure continuity as players progress through the national team system.In addition, Constantine played a role in linking the Rwanda Premier League with Hudl’s Wyscout platform. As a result, matches from the BK Pro League can now be viewed by scouts and clubs around the world. He believes the development will increase the visibility of Rwandan players and create more opportunities for them to secure transfers abroad.
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Dream of Coaching in England Remains Alive
Despite expressing satisfaction with his role in Rwanda, Constantine admitted that he still dreams of coaching in his home country, England. He said it is natural for him to want to work there, although he remains uncertain whether the opportunity will ever arise. The former Millwall and Bournemouth staff member argued that his extensive international coaching experience has not received the recognition it deserves in England, despite being honoured for his achievements in countries such as Nepal and Cyprus.
Nevertheless, Constantine stressed that his primary focus remains on Rwanda. His immediate goal is to qualify Amavubi for AFCON, while his long-term ambition is to guide the national team to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance. He said: “I would love to take Rwanda to the Africa Cup of Nations,” “I would also love to take them to the World Cup, even if it may take several more years.” The coach concluded by encouraging visitors to explore Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, national parks and the shores of Lake Kivu, praising the country’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people.
