Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé, who guided Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success, once expressed interest in taking charge of Rwanda’s national team, Amavubi, but the move failed due to his high salary demands.
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) recently appointed English coach Stephen Constantine as head coach, replacing Adel Amrouche.
Speaking to Rwanda Television, FERWAFA President Fabrice Shema Ngoga revealed that Cissé was among the high-profile coaches considered before Amrouche’s appointment. However, negotiations did not progress because of the financial package he requested.
“Before Adel Amrouche was appointed, I wasn’t yet in office, but I was informed there was a coach they wanted to hire called Cissé. He had the kind of profile we were looking for,” Ngoga said.
He added that Cissé’s salary expectations were far beyond what the federation could reasonably commit to. “When converted into Rwandan francs, he was asking for more than RWF 120 million per month. It’s difficult to justify. It’s not that our country cannot afford such a coach, but what we do must align with our financial means.”
Cissé, who is currently coaching Libya, reportedly earns around €76,000 per month (over RWF 130 million). However, reports indicate that just four months after being appointed in 2025, he considered leaving the role due to delays in salary payments.
Ngoga also clarified that Constantine was not directly approached by FERWAFA for the role, but instead applied like other candidates and earned the position through the selection process.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s national team is preparing for the upcoming FIFA Series 2026, which will be held in Kigali. Amavubi are scheduled to face Grenada on March 27, 2026, at Amahoro Stadium.