Young Rwandan football talents Nabil Nassem Sangwa and Fils Elyse Kwizera, both nurtured under the Tony Football Excellence Program (TFEP), have secured an opportunity to attend elite football training at Al Nasr Football Academy in the United Arab Emirates.
The two youngsters departed Kigali International Airport on the night of Sunday, December 21, 2025, heading to Dubai, where they are set to take part in an intensive football development program.
Sangwa, aged 12, and Kwizera, aged 13, were selected from among their peers at TFEP after demonstrating outstanding potential. Their training camp will run from December 22 to December 31, 2025, offering them exposure to high-level coaching and modern football methodologies.
Before leaving Rwanda, Sangwa, who plays as a defender in the TFEP Under-13 team, expressed his determination to make the most of the opportunity.
“This is a very big chance for me. I am going to work hard so that I don’t waste it. My goal is to represent my academy with pride and, if possible, earn a chance to stay and continue developing my game,” he said.
Kwizera, an attacking player who features in the Under-15 category, also shared his ambition, noting that the ten-day program could open doors to greater opportunities. He emphasized that strong performances in Dubai could bring him closer to playing for top-level clubs in the future.
Despite his young age, Kwizera has already progressed to playing for the Under-20 team at Tony Football Excellence Program, a step that highlights his rapid development and technical ability.
Currently, Tony Football Excellence Program competes in Rwanda’s third division, where the academy’s young players face much older opponents, some aged up to 30. Despite this challenge, the team sits top of the standings in the Northern Region, showcasing the effectiveness of its youth development approach.
Al Nasr Football Academy is affiliated with Al-Nasr SC, a historic club competing in the UAE Pro League and one of the oldest football institutions in the country. The academy is widely recognized for its strong youth development structures.
The academy maintains a strategic partnership with SL Benfica of Portugal, focusing on talent identification and player development. This collaboration has played a key role in enabling opportunities such as the one granted to Sangwa and Kwizera.
Benfica also works closely with Tony Football Excellence Program, providing technical guidance, coaching frameworks, and development programs aimed at elevating youth football standards in Rwanda.
Sangwa and Kwizera are not the first players from TFEP to benefit from international exposure. In 2024, Jean Claude Dushime, Alain Fiston Ishimwe, and Erirohe Yangiriyeneza were sent to Rio Ave FC in Portugal for similar football development programs.
This latest opportunity further reflects the growing reputation of Tony Football Excellence Program as a pathway for young Rwandan players to access international football platforms.
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