There could be some good news for South Africa’s Bafana Bafana as Rwanda coach Torsten Spittler admits uncertainty about being in charge of the Amavubi when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume next March.

Spittler’s contract with the Rwandan FA expires at the end of this year, and he’s unsure whether they’ll offer him an extension. However, he expressed his desire to stay on.

Rwanda currently leads Group C of the World Cup qualifiers after defeating Lesotho 1-0 in Durban on Tuesday. They sit level on points (7) with South Africa (who beat Zimbabwe 3-1) but hold the top spot due to the head-to-head rule used as a tiebreaker in CAF competitions. This win comes after a setback – a 1-0 loss to Benin last Friday.

The group remains one of the most exciting in the qualifiers, with Amavubi dreaming of their first-ever World Cup appearance against established teams like South Africa and Nigeria.

“My contract ends in December,” Spittler told Sportswire. “I don’t know if I can continue with matches like that [next year].”

Spittler’s uncertain future could be a welcome development for South Africa as both teams vie for the top spot. Notably, Rwanda secured a 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana in their second group match last November.

On a positive note for Rwanda, their newly refurbished 30,000-seater Amahoro Stadium is set to open next month in the capital city, Kigali.

Despite leading the group after initially holding the top spot in the first two matches, Spittler acknowledges the long road ahead to maintain their position. With the 2026 World Cup expanding to 48 teams (from 32), only the group winners from each of the nine groups will qualify. Rwanda will host Nigeria and Lesotho next March when the qualifiers resume.

“It’s a long way to go,” said the German coach, “but it’s nice to be on top until next year. You look at the table and feel good, but there are still many matches to play. We’re not performing at the level I expect yet. It’s a good moment, but nothing more.”