Rwanda’s quest to reach their first-ever FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking end on Friday night, October 10, 2025 after suffering a 1–0 home defeat to Benin at the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
In a tightly contested Group C encounter, substitute Tosin Aiyegun scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute to hand Benin a vital victory and extinguish Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The forward pounced on a flicked pass from Romaric Amoussou and calmly slotted home after a lapse in Rwanda’s defense left goalkeeper Ntwari Fiacre exposed.
The match had started brightly for Amavubi, who pushed forward with determination through Gilbert Mugisha and Jojea Kwizera, creating a number of early chances that went begging. The first half ended goalless, with both sides showing strong defensive discipline and few clear openings.
Rwanda returned from the break with renewed urgency, urged on by a raucous home crowd that included President Paul Kagame.
Bizimana Djihad, Nshuti Innocent, and Mugisha Gilbert all came close to finding the back of the net, but Benin’s goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou produced crucial saves to deny them.
Coach Adel Amrouche made several substitutions in search of an equalizer, introducing Ruboneka Bosco and Biramahire Abeddy to inject pace and energy into the attack.
Despite sustained pressure in the final minutes, Rwanda could not break through Benin’s compact defensive line, and Amahoro Stadium fell silent as the final whistle confirmed Amavubi’s elimination from contention.
The result reshapes the Group C standings ahead of the final qualifying matchday. Benin now leads with 17 points, followed by South Africa (15 points), Nigeria (14 points), Rwanda (11 points), Lesotho (9 points), and Zimbabwe (5 points).
Elsewhere, South Africa held Zimbabwe to a 0–0 draw, while Nigeria came from behind to defeat Lesotho 2–1, keeping their qualification hopes alive but no longer in their own hands.
For Rwanda, the defeat marks the end of a spirited campaign that had inspired hope among fans and showcased progress under Amrouche’s leadership. The team displayed resilience and tactical discipline throughout the qualifiers but fell short in key moments where experience and precision in front of goal proved decisive.
It was a night of heartbreak at Amahoro Stadium, where thousands of supporters had come expecting history but left in disappointment.
Yet, despite the loss, Rwanda’s growing confidence and the emergence of promising talents offer optimism for future competitions as the national team continues to evolve on the continental stage.
