President Kagame watched the 2026 UEFA Super Cup match, which ended with French side Paris Saint-Germain winning the trophy after defeating England’s Aston Villa 2-1.
The match was played on the night of August 12, 2026, at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria.
It brought together Paris Saint-Germain, winners of the UEFA Champions League, and Aston Villa, winners of the UEFA Europa League. Both clubs promote Rwanda’s tourism through the Visit Rwanda initiative.
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Visit Rwanda Emerges as a Winner
The match was watched by many people, including Rwandans. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, said the teams played against each other but ultimately Visit Rwanda was the winner.
In a message posted on X, Minister Nduhungirehe said: “Football is a simple game: 22 men run after a ball for 90 minutes, but in the end #VisitRwanda always wins. Thank you very much PSG.”
Praise for Somali Referee Omar Artan
Minister Nduhungirehe also praised Somali referee Omar Artan, who officiated the 2026 UEFA Super Cup final, describing him as an exemplary referee.
He said: “Omar Artan showed the whole world what a great referee he is. A great match officiated by this son of Somalia and Africa.”
Somali referee Omar Artan, who officiated the match, made history as the first non-European referee to officiate a UEFA Super Cup match.
Last week, he was in Rwanda with his fellow referees, Djibouti’s Liban Abdulrazack and Kenya’s Eliezer Stephen Yiembe, where they officiated a match in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup.
PSG Take the Lead
The UEFA Super Cup match started in Paris Saint-Germain’s favour, as they dominated play in Aston Villa’s half during the opening minutes and scored in the 20th minute.
The goal was scored by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after positioning himself well inside the penalty area and receiving a well-placed pass from Désiré Doué, as Aston Villa’s defence was poorly positioned.
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Brian Madjo Makes History
Aston Villa’s Brian Madjo, who had continued to miss several chances in front of goal, levelled the match for his team in the 45th minute after receiving a good pass from John McGinn.
Madjo scored his first goal for Aston Villa in his first appearance for the club. He signed a contract in January 2026 but had been unable to play because of a dispute over his age, until the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in early August 2026 that he was 17 years old.
He made history as the youngest player to feature in a UEFA Super Cup match and also became the youngest player to score in the competition.
Désiré Doué Secures Victory for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain, who were favourites to win the match, scored the second goal through Désiré Doué in the 62nd minute after receiving a pass from Ousmane Dembélé. The goal was confirmed after Omar Artan consulted with his colleagues in the VAR room.
After 11 years, Désiré Doué became the first player in the history of the competition to both score and provide an assist in the same match. The last player to achieve this was Luis Suárez in 2015.
Aston Villa continued to attack strongly in search of an equaliser, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The match ended 2-1, with Paris Saint-Germain winning the UEFA Super Cup for the second time in the club’s history, and doing so consecutively.
Aston Villa’s Continued Super Cup Struggles
On both occasions, PSG defeated English teams. The previous time, they won the trophy against Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has now lost the UEFA Super Cup four times, following defeats in 2014 and 2015 while managing Sevilla FC, and in 2021 while managing Villarreal.
PSG and Visit Rwanda Partnership
Both clubs are partners of Rwanda. The partnership agreement between Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain was first signed in 2019 and renewed in 2025, with the current agreement running until 2028.
Under the agreement, PSG promotes Visit Rwanda at its Parc des Princes stadium and wears training kits displaying the Visit Rwanda brand.
Since the agreement was signed, millions of fans around the world have gained greater awareness of Rwanda through news stories, media exposure and other platforms.
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Impact Through PSG Academy Rwanda
Through the partnership, more than 400 children have received football training through PSG Academy Rwanda, an academy established by the French club in Rwanda.
Every year, the French club sends its players and legends to Rwanda, where they visit the country’s attractions and share their experiences with their followers.
The most recent visitors were Océane Nathalie Toussaint Dit Marseille, Baby Jordy Benera and Jade Le Guilly, who play for Paris Saint-Germain Women. They visited Rwanda at the end of February this year.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) says the partnership helps Rwanda continue showcasing itself to the world as a leading tourism destination, with this expected to be further strengthened by the Visit Rwanda brand appearing on the training kits of PSG youth teams in the United States.
Aston Villa’s New Partnership with Rwanda
Meanwhile, in July 2026, Aston Villa announced that it had signed a partnership agreement with Visit Rwanda under which the club will promote Rwanda’s tourism on the front of its shirts.
The agreement will make Visit Rwanda the club’s Principal Partner, Official Tourism Partner and Official Coffee Provider.
Under the agreement, the Visit Rwanda logo will appear on the front of the shirts of all Aston Villa teams, including the men’s, women’s and youth teams, as well as in other key locations.
Beyond Tourism Promotion
In addition to promoting tourism, the partnership will focus on promoting Rwanda as a country offering investment opportunities and as a destination for hosting international events, conferences and sporting activities.
The two sides will also collaborate on initiatives aimed at developing football and coaching programmes, charitable activities, promoting good governance, and providing opportunities to develop skills in various professions.
