There is growing disquiet in Rwanda following head coach Adel Amrouche’s decision to once again leave out star forward Lague Byiringiro from the Amavubi squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Byiringiro, who plies his trade with Police FC, has shown glimpses of regaining his best form during the recently concluded Inkera y’Abahizi tournament hosted by APR FC. However, the 23-year-old was a surprise omission from Amrouche’s 27-man list released this week.

Also left out were APR defender Clement Niyigena, Standard Liège youngster Hakim Sahabo and RAAL La Louvière midfielder Samuel Gueulette.

Instead, Amrouche has opted for fresh faces, handing debut call-ups to seven players including Alex Nduwayo (APR), Emmanuel Nshimiyimana (Rayon Sports), Claude Smith Kayitaba (Bedford Town), Christian Mukudju (Elite FC), Aly Enzo Hamon (Angoulême CFC), Djabilu Ishimwe (Etincelles) and David Niyo (SC Kiyovu).

Rwanda, who sit second in Group C with eight points – level with Benin but five behind leaders South Africa – will face Nigeria on September 6 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, before travelling to Johannesburg to take on Zimbabwe at Orlando Stadium on September 9.

With Nigeria just a point adrift in fourth place, the clash in Uyo could prove decisive, but Amrouche’s decision to overlook Byiringiro has already sparked heated debate among supporters.

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With just over two weeks to Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against South Africa, diplomatic and footballing conversations are already underway.

On Monday, the Minister Plenipotentiary at the South African High Commission to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja.

She was received by NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi (MON), alongside the Federation’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire, Head of Protocol, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, and Protocol Officer, Prince Bamaiyi Usman.

Central to the discussions was the facilitation of entry visas for Nigeria’s delegation travelling to Bloemfontein, where the Super Eagles will take on Bafana Bafana in a high-stakes qualifier on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.

The encounter at the Free State Stadium is already billed as one of the most decisive fixtures of Group C, with both nations battling fiercely for a spot at the 2026 World Cup to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Dr Sanusi expressed appreciation for the envoy’s proactive engagement, describing it as a demonstration of goodwill and sports diplomacy between the two nations.

“Football has always been a unifying force between Nigeria and South Africa. We appreciate the commitment of the High Commission in ensuring a smooth process for our team’s travel and participation in this very important match,” Sanusi stated.

Mminele, in turn, assured that her mission would work closely with the Federation to ensure a seamless visa process for the Nigerian delegation.

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South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, has once again included highly-rated defender Ime Okon in its preliminary squad, sparking renewed debate about his international future.

Okon, 20, was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother but was raised solely by his mother after losing his father as a baby.

He currently plays in Germany with Hannover 96 in the second tier of the Bundesliga, having joined from SuperSport United, where he rose to prominence in 2023.

While his inclusion has delighted sections of the South African football community, it has also triggered sharp reactions.

Many Bafana supporters remain divided over his call-up, while Nigerian fans, boasting of a surplus of talent, have cheekily claimed they are “helping South Africa” by producing players like Okon.

This is not the first time Okon has been considered for Bafana duty. He was named in a provisional squad in 2023 ahead of a FIFA World Cup qualifier but was later dropped.

Since then, his stock has continued to rise. He made 18 appearances in the DStv Premiership under coach Gavin Hunt and featured six times in continental competition before moving abroad.

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and legend Andre Arendse has repeatedly warned that South Africa risks losing Okon to Nigeria if swift action is not taken.

“Ime Okon is a super talent, but we better be careful we don’t lose him,” Arendse said. “He is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I’ve had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.”

Despite being named in multiple provisional squads by coach Hugo Broos, Okon is yet to make his senior debut for South Africa, leaving the door open for Nigeria’s Super Eagles should they decide to make a move.

With his towering presence at centre-back and growing reputation in Europe, Okon’s case is shaping into another dual-nationality battle—a familiar tug-of-war in African football.

For now, all eyes will be on Broos’ final squad list, and whether Okon finally earns his long-awaited Bafana debut—or drifts closer to Nigeria’s green and white.

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