World Cup (Q): Rwanda coach gutted ahead of South Africa game

Rwanda coach Adel Amrouche says he is gutted by his team’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race after losing 0-1 to Benin on Friday. Next, Amavubi travel to face South Africa in a mere academic match for Group C on Tuesday.

In a post-match interview, the former Tanzania handler blamed bad luck for the defeat:

“We gave him [scorer] a gift. It was a misunderstanding between some players. This happened but it has not happened in a good time and a good day. It is difficult to explain something. We played against a very strong team.”

“This is not easy to find words to explain something…..We had more chances than them. We played with good organization… I can’t blame any person. I can blame back luck. It was not with us today.”

“It’s not easy to find words to explain.”

Rwanda National Football team Head coach, Adel Amrouche, after a 1-0 loss to Benin in the ##WCQ2026. #RBASports pic.twitter.com/aXjxrUx28V

— Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) (@rbarwanda) October 10, 2025

Why Rwanda needed to win at all cost

Amrouche’s men needed to win at all cost considering they were playing at home but it was not to be. Tosin Aiyegun scored for Benin in the 80th-minute at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali to end the hosts’ World Cup qualification dream.

Amavubi have since left for South Africa to face Bafana Bafana in a must-win for the hosts. Benin lead the table with 17 points, three ahead of Nigeria, who edged Lesotho 2-1 on Friday while Zimbabwe held South Africa 0-0 on the same day. Benin will now take on the Super Eagles.

Group C table

1. Benin- 17 points (GD: +5)
2. South Africa- 15 points (GD: +3)
3. Nigeria- 14 points (GD: +3)
4. Rwanda- 11 points
5. Zimbabwe- 5 points

2026 World Cup Qualifying: Matchday 10 Fixtures

12 October 2025

Burkina Faso v Ethiopia (Group A)

Djibouti v Sierra Leone (Group A)

Egypt v Guinea-Bissau (Group A)

Zambia v Niger (Group E)

Ghana v Comoros (Group I)

Chad v Central African Republic (Group I)

Mali v Madagascar (Group I)

13 October 2025

South Sudan v Togo (Group B)

Lesotho v Zimbabwe (Group C)

Cabo Verde v Eswatini (Group D)

Mauritius v Libya (Group D)

Cameroon v Angola (Group D)

Equatorial Guinea v Liberia (Group H)

São Tomé and Príncipe v Malawi (Group H)

Tunisia v Namibia (Group H)

14 October 2025

Congo DR v Sudan (Group B)

Senegal v Mauritania (Group B)

South Africa v Rwanda (Group C)

Nigeria v Benin (Group C)

Morocco v Congo (Group E)

Gabon v Burundi (Group F)

Seychelles v The Gambia (Group F)

Côte d’Ivoire v Kenya (Group F)

Guinea v Botswana (Group G)

Somalia v Mozambique (Group G)

Algeria v Uganda (Group G)