2023-2024 Rwandan Second Division
|
Season |
2023-2024 |
|
Dates |
4 November 2023 – May 2024 |
|
Champions |
|
|
Promoted |
|
|
Relegated |
|
|
Matches played |
|
|
Goals scored |
|
|
Biggest home win |
Interforce – Impeesa 8-0 (round 6, 9 December 2023) |
|
Biggest away win |
City Boys – La Jeunesse 0-4 (round 8, 24 December 2023) |
|
Highest scoring |
UR Huye – Addax 4-7 (round 10, 6 January 2024) |
|
Longest winning run |
Rutsiro FC – 8 matches (rounds 4-12, they did not play in round 9) |
|
Longest unbeaten run |
Rutsiro FC (unbeaten so far) |
|
Longest winless run |
Unity FC (winless so far) |
|
Longest losing run |
United Stars – 8 matches (rounds 2-10, they did not play in round 7) |
Competition details and format
The Rwandan Second Division represents the second tier in the Rwandan football system and is organized by the Federation Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA).
In October 2023, FERWAFA announced that 28 teams were licensed for the 2023-2024 season of the Second Division, compared to 20 teams in 2022-2023. They were divided into two groups of 14 teams each, Group A and Group B. Most of the teams had participated in the 2022-2023 season as well, or in previous editions of the Second Division, but there were also two teams relegated from the 2022-2023 National League, as well as a few teams promoted from the Third Division. The groups were largely made up taking into account a balanced distribution of the teams in terms of value, and the geographical location, as much as possible. The competition started on 4 November 2023 and is scheduled to end in May 2024. In the meantime, in the first half of the season, one team (The Winners FC) withdrew from the competition, and all their results were cancelled, so Group B remained with only 13 teams.
In each group, every team play every other team twice, once at home, and once away, in a double round robin championship, a total of 26 rounds. The winners and the runners-up in each group qualify for the promotion play-offs. The promotion play-offs will be played in a Final Four format, each team playing every other team twice, once at home and once away, a total of 6 rounds. The Second Division winners and the runners-up promote to the 2024-2025 Rwandan National League.
The two teams that were relegated from the National League, Rutsiro FC and Espoir FC, were initially considered the main favorites for promotion. They were distributed in two different groups. In Group A, Rutsiro FC soon emerged as leaders, gradually enlarging the gap between them and a group of teams fighting for the second place, including La Jeunesse, Intare FC, Nyanza FC, Kamonyi FC and Addax FC. In Group B, however, Espoir FC were not able to top the group, which is led by Vision FC, a team which had fought for promotion in 2022-2023 as well. AS Muhanga, Espoir FC and Interforce FC are also involved in the battle for the top two places, leading to the promotion play-offs.
The teams classified 13th and 14th (last and second to last) in each group may be relegated to the 2024-2025 Third Division. They will be involved in a play-out championship, to avoid relegation. The bottom two classified at the end of the play-out championship might be relegated to the 2024-2025 Third Division.
Teams promoted from the Third Division or those otherwise accepted to the Second Division are those which are more likely to be involved in the relegation area. In Group A, Unity FC are bottom, and a group of five teams, UR FC, Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle, Aspor FC, City Boys and Tsinda Batsinde are right above, trying to avoid the second to last place leading to the relegation play-out. In Group B, The Winners FC had already withdrawn from the competition, while the United Stars and Esperance FC fight to avoid the other relegation place in this group.
Team changes from the 2022-2023
To the Second Division
Relegated from the National League
Rutsiro FC
Espoir FC
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted to the Second Division
Spring Hope Academy
City Boys FC
Tsinda Batsinde
Kamonyi FC
UR Huye FC
Unity FC
United Stars FC
Akagera FC
Miroplast FC
Nyagatare FC
Sorwathe FC
From the Second Division
Promoted to the National League
Amagaju FC
Etoile de l’Est
Relegated
None
Withdrawn
Heroes FC
Alpha FC
Kirehe FC
Renamed
Addax SC (former Rugende FC)
Teams
Group A
|
Team |
Home town |
Stadium |
2022-2023 |
|
Rutsiro FC |
Rutsiro |
Mukebera |
15th in the National League (relegated) |
|
Nyanza FC |
Nyanza |
Nyanza |
2nd in Group B (quarter-finalists) |
|
Intare FC |
Shyorongi |
Ikirenga |
4th in Group B (quarter-finalists) |
|
La Jeunesse FC |
Nyamirambo |
Mumena |
Group A |
|
Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle FC |
Gisenyi |
Stade Umuganda |
Group A |
|
Aspor FC |
Kigali |
Rugende |
Group A |
|
Gasabo United |
Gasabo |
Rugende |
Group B |
|
Addax SC |
Rugende |
Rugende |
Group B (as Rugende FC) |
|
Kamonyi FC |
Kamonyi |
Ruyenzi |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
UR FC |
Huye |
Kamena |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Spring Hope Academy |
Cyangugu |
Rusizi |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Tsinda Batsinde |
Gasiza |
Gasiza |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
City Boys FC |
Kigali |
Tapis Rouge |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Unity FC |
Kigali |
Miroplast |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
Group B
|
Team |
Home town |
Stadium |
2022-2023 |
|
Espoir FC |
Cyangugu |
Rusizi |
16th in the Premier League (relegated) |
|
Gicumbi FC |
Byumba |
Gicumbi |
3rd place in the Second Division |
|
Vision FC |
Kigali |
Mumena |
4th place in the Second Division |
|
Ivoire Olympic |
Kigali |
Mumena |
3rd in Group A (quarter-finalists) |
|
AS Muhanga |
Muhanga |
Muhanga |
4th in Group A (quarter-finalists) |
|
Interforce FC |
Nyamata |
Bugesera |
Group A |
|
The Winners FC[1] |
Muhanga |
Muhanga |
Group B |
|
Esperance FC |
Kigali |
Esperance |
Group B |
|
Impeesa FC |
Kigali |
Camp Kigali |
Group A |
|
United Stars FC |
Ruhango |
Kabagari |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Akagera FC |
Rwinkwavu |
Rwinkwavu |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Miroplast FC |
Kigali |
Miroplast |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Nyagatare FC |
Nyagatare |
Kiramuruzi |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
|
Sorwathe FC |
Kinihira |
Kinihira |
Promoted from the Third Division or otherwise accepted |
Geographical distribution of the teams
Almost half of the teams (11 out of 28) are from the capital city of Kigali or the province of Kigali. They are almost equally distributed among the two groups, 6 in Group A and 5 in Group B. The Southern Province (with 6 teams) and the Western Province (with 5 teams) are also very well represented. Teams from the Southern Province are also equally distributed among the two groups, 3 in Group A and 3 in Group B. However, teams of the Western Province are mainly in Group A (4 out of 5), and only one team (Espoir FC) is in Group B, most likely because the two teams relegated from the National League had to be placed in two different groups, and both relegated teams were from the Western Province; therefore, one of them (Espoir FC) was moved into Group B. The three teams of the Northern Province are also to be found in both groups, but two of them are in Group B and only one (Intare FC, actually on the outskirts of Kigali) is in Group A. The three teams of the Eastern Province are all in Group B.
Group A
|
Province |
Number |
Name of the teams |
|
Kigali |
6 |
La Jeunesse FC, Aspor FC, Gasabo United, Addax SC, City Boys FC, Unity FC |
|
Western |
4 |
Rutsiro FC, Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle, Spring Hope Academy, Tsinda Batsinde |
|
Southern |
3 |
Nyanza FC, Kamonyi FC, UR Huye FC |
|
Northern |
1 |
Intare FC |
Group B
|
Province |
Number |
Name of the teams |
|
Kigali |
5 |
Vision FC, Ivoire Olympic, Esperance FC, Impeesa FC, Miroplast FC |
|
Eastern |
3 |
Interforce FC, Akagera FC, Nyagatare FC |
|
Southern |
3 |
AS Muhanga, The Winners FC, United Stars FC |
|
Northern |
2 |
Gicumbi FC, Sorwathe FC |
|
Western |
1 |
Espoir FC |
Group A
Round 1 (4-5 November 2023)
Spring Hope Academy – Aspor 1-0
Intare – Kamonyi 1-0
La Jeunesse – UR Huye 2-0
Vision JN – Addax 0-0
Nyanza – Tsinda Batsinde 2-0
Rutsiro – Gasabo United 1-0
City Boys – Unity 2-2
Round 2 (11 November 2023)
Intare – Spring Hope Academy 4-1
City Boys – Aspor 2-0
Gasabo United – Vision JN 2-0
Tsinda Batsinde – La Jeunesse 0-0
Addax – Kamonyi 2-0
Rutsiro – Nyanza 1-0
UR Huye – Unity 3-0
Round 3 (17-18 November 2023)
Intare – Addax 0-0
Spring Hope Academy – Vision JN 3-0 (awarded)
Aspor – Tsinda Batsinde 1-0
Kamonyi – Gasabo United 1-0
La Jeunesse – Rutsiro 1-1
UR Huye – City Boys 0-0
Nyanza – Unity 3-1
Round 4 (25-26 November 2023)
Spring Hope Academy – City Boys 1-0
Tsinda Batsinde – UR Huye 0-0
Rutsiro – Aspor 3-0 (awarded)
Nyanza – Vision JN 0-0
Unity – Kamonyi 1-1
Addax – La Jeunesse 0-1
Gasabo United – Intare 0-1 – played on 31 January 2024
Round 5 (2-3 December 2023)
Spring Hope Academy – Tsinda Batsinde 1-0
Addax – Gasabo United 3-0
UR Huye – Intare 0-2
Rutsiro – City Boys 1-0
Kamonyi – Nyanza 1-1
Aspor – Unity 1-1
La Jeunesse – Vision JN 2-1
Round 6 (9 December 2023)
Gasabo United – Spring Hope Academy 2-0
Intare – Tsinda Batsinde 5-0
City Boys – Kamonyi 0-2
Nyanza – UR Huye 1-0
Unity – La Jeunesse 0-3
Vision JN – Aspor 1-1
Rutsiro – Addax 1-0
Round 7 (16-17 December 2023)
Spring Hope Academy – Rutsiro 1-2
Tsinda Batsinde – Unity 3-0
Gasabo United – Nyanza 1-1
UR Huye – Vision JN 0-2
Intare – La Jeunesse 1-3
Aspor – Kamonyi 0-3 (awarded)
Addax – City Boys 4-0 – played on 4 February 2024
Round 8 (23-24 December 2023)
Unity – Rutsiro 1-4
Aspor – Gasabo United 0-0
Vision JN – Tsinda Batsinde 0-1
Spring Hope Academy – Addax 0-1
Kamonyi – UR Huye 4-2
Nyanza – Intare 0-1
City Boys – La Jeunesse 0-4
Round 9 (29-31 December 2023)
Addax – Unity 2-0
Gasabo United – Tsinda Batsinde 2-0
City Boys – Vision JN 0-0
Nyanza – La Jeunesse 1-1
UR Huye – Aspor 3-1
Spring Hope Academy – Kamonyi 0-3 (awarded, initially 0-0 on the field)
Rutsiro – Intare 0-0 – played on 4 February 2024
Round 10 (6-7 January 2024)
City Boys – Tsinda Batsinde 2-1
Kamonyi – Rutsiro 0-3
UR Huye – Addax 4-7
Aspor – Intare 2-1
Nyanza – Spring Hope Academy 2-0
La Jeunesse – Gasabo United 1-2
Vision JN – Unity 0-0
Round 11 (12-14 January 2024)
Tsinda Batsinde – Addax 2-1
Gasabo United – City Boys 1-1
La Jeunesse – Kamonyi 2-2
Nyanza – Aspor 2-0
Vision JN – Intare 0-1
Rutsiro – UR Huye 2-0
Spring Hope Academy – Unity 4-2
Round 12 (20-21 January 2024)
Tsinda Batsinde – Rutsiro 0-1
Intare – Unity 3-1
Addax – Aspor 2-1
UR Huye – Gasabo United 1-0
La Jeunesse – Spring Hope Academy 4-1
Kamonyi – Vision JN 2-2
City Boys – Nyanza 1-1 – played on 31 January 2024
Round 13 (27-28 January 2024)
City Boys – Intare 1-1
Kamonyi – Tsinda Batsinde 1-2
Nyanza – Addax 0-0
Unity – Gasabo United 1-1
Vision JN – Rutsiro 1-1
La Jeunesse – Aspor 5-0
Spring Hope Academy – UR Huye 1-1
Table at half-season
|
1 |
Rutsiro FC |
13 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
21-4 |
33 |
Promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
La Jeunesse |
13 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
29-9 |
28 |
Promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
Intare FC |
13 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
21-8 |
27 |
|
|
4 |
Addax SC |
13 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
22-9 |
24 |
|
|
5 |
Nyanza FC |
13 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
14-7 |
21 |
|
|
6 |
Kamonyi FC |
13 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
20-16 |
19 |
|
|
7 |
Gasabo United |
13 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
11-11 |
16 |
|
|
8 |
Spring Hope |
13 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
14-21 |
16 |
|
|
9 |
Tsinda Batsinde |
13 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
9-16 |
14 |
|
|
10 |
UR Huye FC |
13 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
14-22 |
12 |
|
|
11 |
City Boys FC |
13 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
9-18 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
Vision JN |
13 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
7-13 |
10 |
|
|
13 |
Aspor FC |
13 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
7-23 |
9 |
Relegation play-out |
|
14 |
Unity FC |
13 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
10-30 |
5 |
Relegation play-out |
Round 14 (10-11 February 2024)
Aspor – Spring Hope Academy
Kamonyi – Intare
UR Huye – La Jeunesse
Addax – Vision JN
Tsinda Batsinde – Nyanza
Gasabo United – Rutsiro
Unity – City Boys
Group B
Round 1 (4-5 November 2023)
Impeesa – Esperance 3-0 (awarded, initially 2-3 on the field)
Interforce – Miroplast 2-1
Nyagatare – Ivoire Olympic 2-3
Gicumbi – The Winners cancelled (initially 2-1 on the field)
Vision FC – Espoir 2-1
United Stars – Muhanga 3-3
Sorwathe – Akagera 0-1
Round 2 (11-12 November 2023)
Esperance – Sorwathe 0-3 (awarded)
Ivoire Olympic – Impeesa 1-1
Muhanga – Nyagatare 6-0
Espoir – Gicumbi 2-1
The Winners – Interforce cancelled (initially 1-3 on the field)
Miroplast – Akagera 0-3 (awarded)
Vision FC – United Stars 4-0
Round 3 (18-19 November 2023)
Sorwathe – Miroplast 0-0
Esperance – Ivoire Olympic 0-3 (awarded)
Muhanga – Impeesa 3-1
Interforce – Espoir 0-1
Nyagatare – Vision FC 0-2
Akagera – The Winners cancelled (initially 1-0 on the field)
Gicumbi – United Stars 3-0
Round 4 (24-26 November 2023)
Ivoire Olympic – Sorwathe 0-3 (awarded)
The Winners – Miroplast cancelled (initially 2-2 on the field)
Gicumbi – Nyagatare 3-0 (awarded)
Vision FC – Impeesa 6-0
United Stars – Interforce 0-1
Espoir – Akagera 4-0
Muhanga – Esperance 0-0 – played on 31 January 2024
Round 5 (2-3 December 2023)
Sorwathe – The Winners cancelled (initially awarded 3-0)
Ivoire Olympic – Muhanga 0-1
Miroplast – Espoir 1-1
Impeesa – Gicumbi 2-0
Interforce – Nyagatare 1-0
Esperance – Vision FC 0-3
Akagera – United Stars 3-0
Round 6 (9-10 December 2023)
Muhanga – Sorwathe 2-0
Espoir – The Winners cancelled (initially awarded 3-0)
Vision FC – Ivoire Olympic 2-0
Interforce – Impeesa 8-0
Gicumbi – Esperance 2-1
Nyagatare – Akagera 1-0
United Stars – Miroplast 0-1
Round 7 (16-17 December 2023)
Sorwathe – Espoir 0-1
Ivoire Olympic – Gicumbi 1-0
Esperance – Interforce 1-4
Muhanga – Vision FC 4-2
Akagera – Impeesa 2-1
Miroplast – Nyagatare 1-2
The Winners – United Stars cancelled
Round 8 (23-24 December 2023)
Gicumbi – Muhanga 0-0
Interforce – Ivoire Olympic 1-0
Impeesa – Miroplast 0-3
United Stars – Espoir 0-2
Vision FC – Sorwathe 4-0
Akagera – Esperance 0-1
Nyagatare – The Winners cancelled
Round 9 (30-31 December 2023)
Miroplast – Esperance 3-2
Vision FC – Gicumbi 3-0
Espoir – Nyagatare 3-2
Muhanga – Interforce 1-0
Sorwathe – United Stars 2-0
Ivoire Olympic – Akagera 4-1
The Winners – Impeesa cancelled
Round 10 (6-7 January 2024)
Impeesa – Espoir 1-2
Gicumbi – Sorwathe 0-0
Interforce – Vision FC 1-2
Miroplast – Ivoire Olympic 5-0
Nyagatare – United Stars 3-2
Akagera – Muhanga 1-2
Esperance – The Winners cancelled
Round 11 (13-14 January 2024)
Sorwathe – Nyagatare 3-1
Gicumbi – Interforce 0-1
Muhanga – Miroplast 1-0
Espoir – Esperance 3-0
United Stars – Impeesa 2-2
Vision FC – Akagera 3-0
The Winners – Ivoire Olympic cancelled
Round 12 (20-21 January 2024)
Ivoire Olympic – Espoir 2-2
Miroplast – Vision FC 0-0
Impeesa – Nyagatare 4-2
Akagera – Gicumbi 0-4
Esperance – United Stars 2-1
Interforce – Sorwathe 2-1
Muhanga – The Winners cancelled
Round 13 (27-28 January 2024)
Espoir – Muhanga 1-0
Gicumbi – Miroplast 1-2
Nyagatare – Esperance 1-3
Sorwathe – Impeesa 1-1
Interforce – Akagera 7-1
United Stars – Ivoire Olympic 2-1
Vision FC – The Winners cancelled
Table at half-season
|
1 |
Vision FC |
12 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
33-6 |
31 |
Promotion play-offs |
|
2 |
Espoir FC |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
23-9 |
29 |
Promotion play-offs |
|
3 |
Interforce FC |
12 |
9 |
0 |
3 |
28-8 |
27 |
|
|
4 |
AS Muhanga |
12 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
23-8 |
27 |
|
|
5 |
Miroplast FC |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
17-12 |
18 |
|
|
6 |
Sorwathe FC |
12 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
13-12 |
15 |
|
|
7 |
Gicumbi FC |
12 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
14-12 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
Ivoire Olympic |
12 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
15-20 |
14 |
|
|
9 |
Impeesa FC |
12 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
16-30 |
12 |
|
|
10 |
Akagera FC |
12 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
12-27 |
12 |
|
|
11 |
Esperance FC |
12 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
10-26 |
10 |
|
|
12 |
Nyagatare FC |
12 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
14-31 |
9 |
|
|
13 |
United Stars |
12 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
10-27 |
5 |
Relegation play-out |
|
14 |
The Winners |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0-0 |
0 |
Withdrawn |
Round 14 (10-11 February 2024)
Esperance – Impeesa
Miroplast – Interforce
Ivoire Olympic – Nyagatare
Espoir – Vision FC
Muhanga – United Stars
Akagera – Sorwathe
The Winners – Gicumbi cancelled
[1] Withdrew from the competition in the first half of the season and all their results were cancelled.
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