Why Rwanda Must Act Now to Secure Diaspora Football

Rwanda's Missed Opportunity: The Johan Bakayoko Case

Rwanda recently lost the chance to secure one of Europe’s most promising young footballers, Johan Bakayoko. Despite his Rwandan heritage and early signals of interest in playing for the Amavubi, the PSV Eindhoven winger chose to represent Belgium on the international stage. Born in Overijse, Belgium, to a Rwandan mother and an Ivorian father, Bakayoko represented Belgium from U15 to U21, and officially committed to the Red Devils in 2023.

This high-profile miss underscores a growing issue in Rwandan football: the lack of a proactive and strategic approach to recruiting diaspora talent.

Why Early Intervention is Crucial

As competition for dual-nationality players intensifies globally, nations like Morocco, Algeria, and Nigeria have set strong precedents in diaspora scouting. FERWAFA must adopt a similar model. Rwanda can no longer afford to wait until players are stars in Europe. The window to recruit is during their formative years—when their international allegiance is still undecided.

The example of Johan Bakayoko is a critical wake-up call.

Tapping into a Global Pool of Rwandan Talent

There is no shortage of Rwandan football talent abroad. Players like Noam Emeran (formerly of Manchester United), Hakim Sahabo (Belgium), and Sanders Ngabo (Denmark) represent a vast, untapped potential. These young athletes are technically gifted, exposed to high-level training, and still deeply connected to their Rwandan roots.

To make Rwanda an appealing option, FERWAFA must not only identify these players but offer a compelling vision: a future with structure, growth, and purpose.

What FERWAFA Must Do Now

1. Establish a Diaspora Scouting Network: Position talent scouts in key football nations—France, Belgium, UK, Norway, Switzerland—to track and approach Rwandan-eligible players early.
2. Create an Appealing Amavubi Vision: Showcase Rwanda’s national progress and position the national team as part of a broader story of ambition and unity.
3. Provide Structural and Logistical Support: Streamline dual nationality processes, offer financial support, and guarantee a clear development pathway.
4. Government Collaboration: Engage ministries and high-level government bodies to support and market the project as a national cause.

Building a Team for the Future

If Rwanda aspires to return to the Africa Cup of Nations—or reach the World Cup for the first time—it must think beyond its borders. Football is not just about skill; it’s about identity, pride, and national influence.

FERWAFA must act decisively and globally. The Amavubi project needs to be more than a jersey—it must be a movement, one that young Rwandans everywhere are proud to join.

Rwanda’s future in football lies in its global family. The time to act is now.

Rwanda’s Missed Football Opportunity: Lessons from the Johan Bakayoko Case

In global football today, national teams are competing not only on the pitch but also in the battle to secure talented players with dual or multiple nationalities. For Rwanda, the story of Johan Bakayoko—a rising star in European football—stands as both an inspiration and a painful reminder of what happens when a nation hesitates to act early.

Johan Bakayoko, a winger for PSV Eindhoven and one of Belgium’s brightest young prospects, has deep ties to Rwanda through his mother. Born in Overijse, Belgium, to a Rwandan mother and an Ivorian father, Bakayoko was once seen as a possible future Amavubi star. However, despite his Rwandan roots and early whispers of interest, he committed his international career to Belgium, making his senior debut for the Red Devils in 2023.

This decision marked a missed opportunity for Rwanda. More importantly, it highlighted a recurring challenge in Rwandan football: the lack of a proactive strategy for identifying, recruiting, and nurturing diaspora talent before other nations step in.

Why Johan Bakayoko’s Case Matters

Bakayoko’s decision is not just about one player—it is symbolic of the wider issues Rwanda faces in football development and talent recruitment. At just 21 years old, Bakayoko has already attracted attention from top European clubs, with many predicting he could become one of the best wingers of his generation. Losing such a player underscores the urgency for Rwanda to rethink its approach.

The lesson here is clear: waiting until players are established stars in Europe is too late. By that time, most will have already pledged their international future to countries with stronger footballing traditions. Rwanda must act earlier, during their teenage years, when international allegiances are still open.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Nigeria have successfully built powerful national teams by actively scouting and recruiting from their diasporas. They create structures that make young players feel wanted, supported, and integrated into a long-term vision.

For example, Morocco’s recent World Cup success in Qatar was largely powered by diaspora players raised and trained in Europe. Their recruitment strategy began early, offering young prospects not just a jersey, but a compelling story of identity, pride, and belonging.

Rwanda can learn from this. If FERWAFA (Rwanda’s football federation) wants to avoid future regrets like the Johan Bakayoko case, early intervention must become the cornerstone of its strategy.

Rwanda’s Untapped Global Talent Pool

It is important to remember that Johan Bakayoko is not the only player with Rwandan heritage making waves abroad. The global Rwandan diaspora has produced many talented footballers, including:

• Noam Emeran – formerly with Manchester United, known for his creativity and pace.
• Hakim Sahabo – a promising midfielder currently in Belgium.
• Sanders Ngabo – a Denmark-based midfielder with technical ability and vision.

These are just a few names, but the pool is much larger. The challenge for Rwanda is not a lack of talent—it is the lack of a clear system to identify, engage, and convince these players to wear the Amavubi jersey.

What Rwanda Must Do Differently

For Rwanda to avoid missing out on more diaspora stars, FERWAFA needs a comprehensive strategy that combines scouting, support, and national pride. Here are some key steps:

1. Establish a Diaspora Scouting Network

Rwanda should station scouts or build networks in key footballing countries such as Belgium, France, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. These scouts would monitor young players of Rwandan descent, engage with them and their families early, and communicate the opportunities available with Rwanda’s national team.

2. Create an Appealing Amavubi Vision

Beyond financial incentives, young players want to feel part of something bigger. Rwanda must present its national team as a project of ambition, identity, and pride. Highlighting Rwanda’s national development, growing football infrastructure, and vision for the future could be powerful in convincing players to commit.

3. Provide Structural and Logistical Support

Many dual-nationality players hesitate because of bureaucratic hurdles. Rwanda can make the process easier by streamlining citizenship documentation, offering financial assistance for integration, and guaranteeing clear developmental pathways from youth setups to the senior team.

4. Government Collaboration

Recruiting diaspora talent should not be left to FERWAFA alone. The government—through ministries of sports, foreign affairs, and even tourism—can play a role in marketing Rwanda as a country of opportunity and unity. Supporting football recruitment as a national project could change perceptions.

Building a Team for the Future

If Rwanda has ambitions of returning to the Africa Cup of Nations or even making a historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup, it must think beyond its borders. Football today is global, and success often depends on a nation’s ability to harness its diaspora.

The Johan Bakayoko case is not just a missed opportunity; it is a wake-up call. Rwanda must start building a sustainable football ecosystem that does not end at its borders. By engaging young Rwandans abroad, providing them with clear pathways, and offering a sense of purpose, the Amavubi can become more competitive on the African and global stage.

More Than Just Football: Identity and Pride

Football is more than a sport—it is about identity, pride, and national unity. When a player like Bakayoko chooses Belgium, it reflects not only a footballing decision but also a statement about where he feels most at home.

For Rwanda, this means creating an environment where diaspora players see Amavubi not as a backup plan but as a first choice. It is about more than wearing a jersey; it is about becoming part of a movement that represents Rwanda’s growth and ambition.

The Time to Act is Now

Johan Bakayoko’s case should not be seen as a permanent loss but as a lesson for the future. There is still a wealth of Rwandan talent scattered across Europe and beyond. By acting decisively, strategically, and globally, Rwanda can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

The Amavubi project must evolve into something bigger—a movement that young players across the world are eager to join. Rwanda’s future in football lies not only in local academies but also in its global family.

The message is clear: the time to act is now.