AFCON 2025: RWANDA EYEING PERFECT START AGAINST LIBYA AND NIGERIA – Torsten Spittler

Rwanda’s national football team, known as Amavubi, is gearing up for a crucial start in the qualifying rounds for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The head coach, Torsten Spittler, has expressed his aspirations and strategies as the team prepares to face Libya on September 4 and Nigeria on September 10. Amavubi head coach Torsten Spittler says he cannot promise the country qualification to the 2025 AFCON although it’s a dream he wants to achieve.

Just like he said prior to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Spittler insists his aim is to win all AFCON 2025 qualifying matches.

“Every team wants to qualify but I cannot promise anything. My target is to win every game in the qualifying phase and if those wins can take us in Morocco, we will be glad,” Spittler told the press as quoted by Times Sport.

The German gaffer further mentioned that he is hoping for a bright start to the qualifying campaign ahead of Amavubi’s trip to Libya on September 4 before hosting the Super Eagles on September 10 at Amahoro Stadium.

“We have been performing well and I hope we get the perfect start we need by getting the needed results against Libya and Nigeria.”

“For Libya, information on them is very scanty but for Nigeria we know a lot about them and their world class players. Yes, It is true I asked my friend Gernot Rohr (Benin head coach) on how to beat Nigeria,” he added.

Spittler acknowledges that while every team aims for qualification, he cannot guarantee it. His primary focus is on winning each match during the qualifying phase. He stated, “Every team wants to qualify but I cannot promise anything. My target is to win every game in the qualifying phase and if those wins can take us to Morocco, we will be glad.” This statement reflects a realistic approach to the challenges ahead while still maintaining an optimistic outlook.

The coach has highlighted the importance of starting strong in their campaign. He mentioned that they have been performing well in training and are hopeful for positive results against both Libya and Nigeria. The upcoming matches are critical as they set the tone for Rwanda’s qualification journey.

Regarding their opponents, Spittler noted that information about Libya is limited, which could pose a challenge in preparation. However, he feels more confident about facing Nigeria due to their extensive knowledge of the Super Eagles’ world-class players. To gain further insights into how to tackle Nigeria effectively, Spittler reached out to Gernot Rohr, who previously coached Nigeria from 2016 to 2021. This collaboration indicates a strategic approach by leveraging past experiences of other coaches.

As part of their preparations, some foreign-based professionals have joined the training sessions with Amavubi. Reports indicate that six out of ten professional players participated in their first training session recently. The team is currently training twice daily at Amahoro Stadium before heading to Tripoli for their match against Libya.

In summary, Rwanda aims for a perfect start against Libya and Nigeria under coach Torsten Spittler’s leadership, focusing on winning each qualifying match while preparing strategically against known opponents.