Rayon Sports have been hit with a fresh FIFA transfer ban that will prevent the club from registering new players until the summer of 2027, dealing a major setback to their preparations for the upcoming season.
FIFA announced the sanction on Monday, only days after the Rwandan Premier League side had succeeded in lifting an earlier registration ban by resolving a dispute involving former player Souleymane Daffé.
The latest ban stems from other unresolved financial claims involving former employees. Among the pending cases is one filed by former goalkeeper Drissa Koutaye, who is seeking Rwf10 million in unpaid dues.
The decision comes after Rayon Sports had already completed an extensive recruitment drive during the current transfer window, signing 14 players from across Africa and Rwanda.
The club’s foreign arrivals include Cameroonian duo Junior Kameni and Junior Dande, Boris Gbenou of the Central African Republic, Mali’s Issa Djiguiba, Niger’s Ibrahim Djingarey, Benin international Antonio Atisso Kodjo, Charles Tchouplaou of Chad, Burundian Mudel Akbar and Congolese defender Matumona Wakonda Kanda.
Rayon Sports also added six Rwandan players to the squad: Ndayishimiye Didier, Nshuti Didier, Nisingizwe Christian, Nkundimana Fabio, Nizeyimana Mubarak and Muhoza Daniel.
Several of the new signings have already joined pre-season training as the club prepares for the CECAFA Kagame Cup, the CAF Confederation Cup and the 2026/27 domestic season.
The club is also scheduled to host Kenyan side Gor Mahia in an international friendly on July 18 during the annual Rayon Day celebrations at Kigali Pele Stadium.
It was not immediately clear whether Rayon Sports would be able to resolve the outstanding cases in time to register their new signings before the upcoming competitions.
