Joy-Lance Mickels has arrived in Kigali with Rwanda determined to end a 23-year wait for a return to the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The Sabah FC forward joined Amavubi preparations ahead of their opening 2027 AFCON Group K qualifier against Liberia at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, 25 September.

Rwanda last appeared at AFCON in Tunisia in 2004, their only previous finals appearance. Mickels said qualifying for the 2027 tournament is the team’s central objective and described it as an opportunity to give back to the country he represents. “Our objective is to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations because it has been a long time since Rwanda last played there,” he said. “I am confident that, together with my teammates, we can achieve it.”

The 32-year-old arrives after a significant European campaign with Azerbaijani champions Sabah. Mickels scored in every qualifying round as Sabah reached the UEFA Champions League league phase on their competition debut, becoming the first Rwandan player to feature in the competition proper.

Rwanda’s qualifying group also includes Mali and Cape Verde. The top two teams will qualify for AFCON 2027, meaning each of the six group matches will carry major importance. After facing Liberia, Rwanda travel to Cape Verde on 29 September, before a decisive double-header against group favourites Mali in November.

Head coach Stephen Constantine has selected Mickels among a group of attacking options that includes Innocent Nshuti, Abeddy Biramahire, Taiba Mbonyumwami, Fidal Uwiyaremye and Slayd Mickles. Rwanda will hope that Mickels’ experience of high-level European football can help translate a promising start into a sustained campaign for only their second AFCON qualification