The
sport
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
of
football in the country of
Rwanda is run by the
Rwandese Association Football Federation
The Rwanda Football Federation ( French: ''Fédération Rwandaise de Football Association'', FERWAFA; "Rwandan Association Football Federation"), is the official governing body of association football
Association football, more commonly known ...
. The association administers the
national football team, as well as the
Rwandan Premier League. Football is the most popular sport in Rwanda.
National team
The Rwanda national team has traditionally been among the weaker sides in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
n football. They have attempted to qualify for the
Africa Cup of Nations on a number of occasions but managed this only once, in
2004. Although eliminated in the first round Rwanda did manage to defeat former champions
Congo DR
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
and draw with
Guinea.
They also participate in the
CECAFA Cup
The CECAFA Cup, is the oldest football tournament in Africa. It is organized by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations ( CECAFA). A FIFA competition, it includes participants of football playing national teams from the East ...
, a regional tournament involving east and central African national teams only. Rwanda's sole international success came in this competition when the country's 'B' team defeated
Kenya
)
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...
in the final. Rwanda's full national team, which also took part in the competition, actually finished third with the second string winning.
As of December 2014, the Rwandan national team had attained its historic record ranking on
FIFA rankings that were released on Thursday, Dec 18, 2014. Rwanda was ranked 68th globally, 19th in Africa, and 1st in East Africa. The
Amavubi are the biggest mover on the world rankings, 22 places from 90th position in November 2014 following a goalless draw in
Marrakesh versus the
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...
national team.
Club football
The
Rwandan Premier League is the country's top competition, with
APR FC its most successful club. The
Rwandan Cup is the main knock-out competition, with
Rayon Sports FC the leading side in the cup. On the international stage Rwandan sides have enjoyed some success in the regional
Kagame Inter-Club Cup, with Rayon Sport taking the title in 1998, APR FC winning in 2005 and 2007 and
ATRACO FC successful in 2009.
As of 2013 they are the only country in East Africa to have an established women's football league, the
Rwanda Women's Football League.
Football stadiums in Rwanda
References
{{Football in Africa