The AS Kigali football club is facing serious challenges, including financial woes, and may lose as many as 15 players whose contracts have expired—out of the 27 players it had.
Last season, this City of Kigali team finished third in the national league, behind APR FC and Rayon Sports.
Besides the financial crisis that saw the club finish the season owing its players up to eight months’ salary and its coaches ten months’ pay, AS Kigali is also under FIFA sanctions that prevent it from signing new players.
These sanctions came after the club failed to pay money owed to Nigerian player Raphael Osaluwe.
However, reports indicate that city officials are preparing to quickly settle the debt owed to the Nigerian in order to regain access to the transfer market.
Among the players AS Kigali risks losing following contract expiration are Ugandan striker Emmanuel Okwi, Haruna Niyonzima, Jospin Nshimiyimana, Nibikora Arthur, Nkubana Marc, Cuzuzo Aimé Gaël, and Franklin Onyeabor.
Others include Shabani Hussein “Tchabalala,” Burengeya Prince, Iyabivuze Osée, Benedata Janvier, Byiringiro Gilbert, Ntirushwa Aimé, Bukuru Christophe, and Ishimwe Saleh.
