The Rwanda Premier League is fun to watch. It has the best football teams in Rwanda. Teams play hard to win the title. Fans cheer loud in stadiums. This league started long ago. Now it has 18 teams. Two teams from Sudan joined this season. That’s new and exciting.
What Is the Rwanda Premier League?
The Rwanda Premier League is the top football league in Rwanda. It’s run by the Rwanda Football Federation. They call it FERWAFA. The league has 18 teams right now. Each team plays games against others. The team with the most points wins.
The winner goes to big Africa cups. Like the CAF Champions League. The second place goes to the CAF Confederation Cup. Teams at the bottom go down to a lower league. That’s the Rwandan Second Division.
This season is special. Two Sudanese teams play in it. They are Al Hilal and Al Merrikh. War in Sudan made them move. They play home games in Kigali. This makes the league stronger.
History of the Rwanda Premier League
The league began in 1969. But the real start was in 1975. It had different names over time. From 2004 to 2012, it was Primus National Football League. That’s from a sponsor.
In 2015, Azam sponsored it. They paid a lot of money. Over 2 million dollars. But that ended in 2019. Now it’s just Rwanda Premier League.
APR has won the most titles. They have 23 wins. Rayon Sports has 9. The league stopped some years. Like in 1994 because of sad events in Rwanda. But it came back strong.
In October 2025, the Sudanese teams joined. CAF said yes in November. The season started before that. So they added games.
Current Teams in the Rwanda Premier League
Here are the 18 teams this season. I list their locations too.
- Al Hilal: Omdurman (Sudan, playing in Kigali)
- Al Merrikh: Omdurman (Sudan, playing in Kigali)
- APR: Kigali
- AS Kigali: Kigali
- AS Muhanga: Muhanga
- Amagaju: Nyamagabe District
- Bugesera: Nyamata
- Etincelles: Gisenyi
- Gasogi United: Kigali
- Gicumbi: Byumba
- Gorilla: Kigali
- Kiyovu Sports: Kigali
- Marines: Gisenyi
- Mukura Victory Sports: Butare
- Musanze: Ruhengeri
- Police: Kigali
- Rayon Sports: Nyanza
- Rutsiro: Rutsiro
Many teams are in Kigali. That’s the big city.
Stadiums Where Teams Play
Games happen in nice stadiums. Most are in Rwanda. The Sudanese teams use ones in Kigali.
Here are some key stadiums:
- Amahoro Stadium: In Kigali. Holds 45,000 fans. Big games happen here.
- Kigali Pelé Stadium: Also in Kigali. APR and others play here. Holds 22,000.
- Umuganda Stadium: In Gisenyi. For teams like Etincelles and Marines.
- Stade Huye: In Butare. Mukura plays here.
- Nyamata Stadium: For Bugesera.
Stadiums have good grass fields. Fans sit close to the action. Some stadiums got fixed up recently. This makes games safer and fun.
How the League Works: Rules and Format
The league is simple. 18 teams play each other twice. Once home, once away. That’s 34 games per team.
You get 3 points for a win. 1 point for a draw. 0 for a loss. Goals matter if points are the same.
The season runs from August to May. But this year started in September. Because of the new teams.
Two teams go down at the end. Two come up from below.
Refs use rules from FIFA. Yellow cards for bad plays. Red cards send you off.
2025-26 Season Standings and Updates
This season is hot. Al Hilal leads. They have 35 points from 15 games. Police is close with 34 points.
Here’s the full table as of January 2026:
| Rank | Team | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For/Against | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Hilal | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 39:10 | +29 | 35 |
| 2 | Police | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 18:7 | +11 | 34 |
| 3 | APR | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 21:10 | +11 | 33 |
| 4 | Al Merrikh | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 18:10 | +8 | 32 |
| 5 | Kiyovu | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 16:9 | +7 | 27 |
| 6 | Mukura | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17:14 | +3 | 27 |
| 7 | Rayon Sports | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 21:21 | 0 | 26 |
| 8 | Musanze | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 24:19 | +5 | 25 |
| 9 | Marines | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 19:16 | +3 | 25 |
| 10 | Gasogi United | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 14:19 | -5 | 22 |
| 11 | Gicumbi | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 22:26 | -4 | 21 |
| 12 | Bugesera | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 14:17 | -3 | 20 |
| 13 | Gorilla | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11:18 | -7 | 18 |
| 14 | AS Kigali | 17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 12:19 | -7 | 16 |
| 15 | Rutsiro | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 17:26 | -9 | 14 |
| 16 | AS Muhanga | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8:23 | -15 | 12 |
| 17 | Amagaju | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6:23 | -17 | 12 |
| 18 | Etincelles | 17 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 12:22 | -10 | 11 |
Al Hilal scores a lot. They beat Amagaju 8-0 lately.
Top Scorers This Season
Goals win games. Here are the top ones after day 15.
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emmanuel Flomo | Al Hilal | 10 |
| 2 | Shaban Hussein | Musanze | 9 |
| 3 | Lola Kanda Moise | Kiyovu | 8 |
| 4 | Adama Coulibali | Al Hilal | 8 |
| 5 | Mbonynumwami Taiba | Marines | 7 |
Flomo is on fire. He scores for Al Hilal.
Past Champions
Here’s who won each year. APR wins most.
- 1969: Kiyovu Sports
- 1970: Kiyovu Sports
- … (up to)
- 2024-25: APR
Full list from history. Gaps in some years like 1976-79 unknown.
Best Clubs Over Time
| Club | Titles | Last Win |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 23 | 2025 |
| Rayon Sports | 9 | 2019 |
| Kiyovu Sports | 6 | 1993 |
| Panthères Noires | 5 | 1987 |
| Mukungwa | 2 | 1989 |
APR is the king.
All-Time Top Goalscorers
From past seasons:
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Luleuti Kyayuna | APR | 9 |
| 2003 | Milly | APR | 12 |
| … | … | … | … |
| 2023-24 | Ani Elijah | Bugesera | 15 |
Many from APR.
Notable Players and Stars
Many good players come from here. Like Olivier Karekezi. He scored 14 in 2004.
Now, Flomo from Liberia scores big. Sudanese players add skill.
Some go to Europe or other Africa teams.
How to Follow the League: Tips for Fans
Want to watch? Here’s how.
- TV: Watch on RTV or Magic Sports TV.
- Online: Check Sofascore or Flashscore for live scores.
- Go to games: Buy tickets at stadiums. Cheap and fun.
- Social: Follow @RwandaLeague on X.
Join fan groups. Cheer for your team.
FAQs
What is the Rwanda Premier League?
It’s the top football league in Rwanda with 18 teams.
Who is leading now?
Al Hilal with 35 points.
How many teams?
18 this year.
Who has most titles?
APR with 23.
Why Sudanese teams?
War in Sudan. They play safe in Rwanda.
How to watch games?
On TV or online sites.
Who is top scorer?
Emmanuel Flomo with 10 goals.
When does season end?
Around May.
What if tie in points?
Goals difference decides.
Is there a women’s league?
Yes, but this is men’s.
Conclusion
The Rwanda Premier League 2025-26 is delivering non-stop excitement with Al Hilal leading the charge, Sudanese clubs adding serious quality, and local stars lighting up the scoreboard. Whether you’re tracking live standings, hunting for top goalscorers, or just cheering for your favorite team, this season has something for every football fan in Rwanda and beyond. Stay locked in for thrilling matches, surprise results, and the race to the title—Rwanda’s premier football action is hotter than ever, and the best is yet to come!
