Imanishimwe Emmanuel “Mangwende,” who plays for AEL Limassol in the Cypriot First Division and the Rwanda National Team, has returned to the pitch after being sidelined for eight months with a knee injury.
On the night of Tuesday, August 12, 2025, AEL Limassol, currently preparing for the 2025/26 season, played a friendly match that ended in a 2–2 draw against Akritas Chlorakas.Among the starting eleven was defender Imanishimwe Emmanuel “Mangwende,” who had recently resumed training after recovering from the knee injury.
Mangwende sustained the injury on December 14, 2024, during a match against Omonia, leaving the pitch in the 17th minute. Since then, he had not appeared in any game.In January 2025, Mangwende underwent surgery and was given sufficient recovery time. By April 2025, he had started light training sessions.Imanishimwe joined AEL Limassol last year, playing only 13 matches before getting injured.
His injury also kept him out of Rwanda’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, as well as friendly matches held in Algeria in June 2025.Imanishimwe Emmanuel, widely known as Mangwende, is a Rwandan defender who plays for AEL Limassol in the Cypriot First Division as well as for the Rwanda National Team, Amavubi. He is among the experienced left-backs, known for his speed and solid defensive abilities.
On December 14, 2024, during a league match between AEL Limassol and Omonia, Mangwende suffered a knee injury in the 17th minute, forcing him off the pitch. The injury required surgery the following month, in January 2025, after which he was given ample time to recover. He resumed light training in April 2025, but did not return to competitive action until eight months later.
Before joining AEL Limassol in 2024, Mangwende played for several clubs, including APR FC, AS Kigali, AFC Leopards of Kenya, and Gasogi United. At AEL Limassol, he featured in only 13 matches before his injury.
His last competitive match had been on December 14, 2024, before making his return on August 12, 2025, in a friendly that ended in a 2–2 draw against Akritas Chlorakas. His comeback is expected to boost AEL Limassol’s start to the 2025/26 season and restore his valuable experience to the national team, especially in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
