Amrouche surprises TFF as he is named Rwanda coach

Tanzania national team head coach Adel Amrouche has shocked many by resurfacing in Rwanda, just as the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) was still awaiting his future.

Today, the Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) announced that Amrouche has been appointed as the head coach of the country’s national team, commonly known as ‘Amavubi.’

In addition to Amrouche, Ferwafa has named two local coaches to its staff: Erick Nshimiyimana as the first assistant coach and Dr. Carolin Braun as the second assistant coach. The announcement also revealed that Casa Mbungo will take over as head coach of the women’s national team while overseeing football development under the technical directorate.

This move comes just weeks after Amrouche won his case against the Confederation of African Football (CAF), resulting in the federation being ordered to compensate the coach.

Amrouche’s decision to join Amavubi has raised questions, as he is still under contract with TFF, which runs until next year. Despite this, TFF has yet to comment on the situation.

Previously, Amrouche was suspended for eight matches by TFF after making inflammatory remarks about the Moroccan Football Federation following Tanzania’s 3-0 loss to Morocco in their opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

In an interview with an Algerian television station, Amrouche claimed, “The Moroccan Federation is a dominant force in African football. Morocco controls African football.”

He also alleged that Moroccan officials within CAF have the authority to select referees for matches involving Morocco’s national team and to determine the timing of those matches.

As a result of his comments, Amrouche was fined $10,000 and suspended for eight matches by TFF, which then placed the national team under the management of local coaches Hemed Morocco and Juma Mgunda.