Rwanda’s national football team, the Amavubi, could climb to a FIFA ranking position it last occupied nine years ago after defeating Cape Verde 2-1 to record four consecutive victories.
The victory earned Rwanda 18.15 points in the FIFA ranking, bringing the team’s total gains from the four matches to 38.38 points. This could move Rwanda up nine places, from 128th to 119th, returning it to a position it last held in 2017.
The Amavubi currently lead Group K in the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with six points from six available, following their match against Cape Verde in Praia on the evening of September 29.
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The match came four days after Rwanda defeated Liberia 3-1 in Kigali, following two other victories that saw the team win the 2026 FIFA Series tournament hosted in Kigali.
Those victories came against Grenada, whom Rwanda defeated 4-0, and Estonia, whom the Amavubi beat 2-0.
Rwanda gained 3.79 points from the victory over Grenada, 5.04 points from the win against Estonia, 11.40 points from defeating Liberia and 18.15 points from the victory over Cape Verde. The total gain of 38.38 points would give Rwanda 1,156.16 points in the FIFA ranking, potentially moving the country up nine places, from 128th to 119th.
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Amavubi Target Highest Ranking Since 2017
FIFA’s official ranking is scheduled to be released on October 7, two days after Rwanda plays a friendly match against Kenya at Amahoro Stadium on October 5, 2026.
The Amavubi last ranked above 120th in 2017, when they reached 113th. In the same year, Rwanda climbed as high as 93rd in the FIFA rankings. When the team was coached by Stephen Constantine between 2014 and 2015, Rwanda climbed from 134th to 64th, which remains the country’s highest-ever position in the FIFA rankings.
Rwanda to Face Mali in November
In the ongoing qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, Rwanda will face Mali in two matches scheduled for November 2026.
