Women’s AFCON 2026: Ndakimana optimistic ahead of Egypt first leg clash

Rwanda women captain Angeline Ndakimana has said her team can upset Egypt when the pair face off in the first leg of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers in...

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Rwanda women captain Angeline Ndakimana has said her team can upset Egypt when the pair face off in the first leg of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers in Kigali on February 21. The team is currently training twice at Amahoro Stadium under the tutelage of new head coach Andre Casa Mbungo and, with the current state of preparations, Ndakimana confidently said that they are well poised for action and are aiming for a good win to make the return leg a mere formality. We are looking forward to the game.

We want to win the first leg with a big margin so that the second leg will be a formality. Training is ongoing and the team is improving because we have coaches who are giving us basic knowledge, Ndakimana told Times Sport. ALSO READ: AS Kigali retain women football league title As captain and the goalkeeper of the team, I want to keep a clean sheet which is vital in our quest for victory.



We have what it takes to make it to the Women's AFCON, she added. The shot stopper further stressed that they have a fair idea of their opponents’ playing style and are going to make the best out of their weaknesses. We have been watching videos of the team we will play against (Egypt).

It can help us to know the loopholes in their team and capitalize on it, she said. The winner of the tie will face the Black Queens of Ghana in the final qualifier due between October 20 and 28 with the Ghanaians currently exempted by CAF from the first qualifying round. A total of 38 African nations will compete for one of the 12 available spots in the final phase, alongside host nation Morocco, which qualifies automatically.

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