What's holding back Rwanda's football?

Over the past decade, the Rwandan national football team has faced a series of challenges, with its performance dwindling and failing to attract significant attention from fans. Not since 2004 has the country qualified for the prestigious African Cup of Nations (AFCON). To shed light on the underlying issues plaguing Rwandan football, sports analyst Ivan Mugisha joined CNBC Africa for an insightful discussion. Mugisha highlighted two key factors contributing to the poor performance of men's football in Rwanda. Firstly, he pointed out the inadequate financial investment in developing talent at the grassroots level by the government. This lack of support has hindered the growth and nurturing of young football players across different districts in the country. Secondly, Mugisha emphasized the mismanagement at the football federation, which has been prevalent since Rwanda's last qualification for the AFCON in 2004. He noted the absence of a clear structure from the Ministry of Sports to aid in the development of football. Despite football being a favorite sport among the youth in Rwanda, the failure to establish a robust system for talent identification and development has impeded the progress of the sport. In addressing the challenges facing Rwandan football, Mugisha proposed several solutions. Drawing inspiration from successful models in other East African countries like Uganda, he suggested creating a high level of competition at various levels, starting from grassroots to university. By focusing on building a strong local league and organizing championships across different districts, Rwanda can identify and nurture young talent effectively. Mugisha also emphasized the importance of supporting talented individuals by providing opportunities for further education and training in reputable sports academies in Africa or Europe.