The Rwanda Premier League Association has confirmed that three Sudanese clubs — Al-Hilal, Al-Merrikh, and Ahli Wad Madani — will participate in the 2025–2026 Rwandan Premier League. The announcement was made in Kigali by the association’s president, Yusuf Mudahir, during a press conference on Monday.
Mudahir explained that the Sudanese teams will compete under the league’s existing rules and regulations, with matches scheduled to begin in November 2025. No special changes will be made to accommodate their participation.
He clarified that if a Sudanese club tops the league table, it will receive the championship trophy, but the highest-ranked Rwandan club will still be crowned national champion.
The decision, Mudahir noted, results from enhanced sporting cooperation between the Rwandan and Sudanese football federations. The guest clubs, however, will not represent Rwanda in CAF competitions.
Sudanese players will be registered as local players, exempt from the foreign-player limit of eight per team. The Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) has granted formal approval for the clubs’ participation, while Sudan FA President Dr. Mutasim Jaafar is expected in Kigali to finalize logistics ahead of the joint competition season.
