Ntore Habimana and Axel Mpoyo have been recalled to Rwanda's men's national basketball team ahead of this month's AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, following their withdrawal from the squad in November 2024.

Habimana and Mpoyo, who both play for APR, declined to join the team despite being named for Cheikh Sarr's 15-man roster that competed in November 2024's AfroBasket Qualifiers, citing a need to rest after a long season with APR.

Habimana told B&B Kigali that he withdrew from Rwanda's squad "to take some time to rest and work out" at the time.

However, it was reported that the pair had a compensation dispute with the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA).

On the other hand, Lars Licken Ishimwe was handed a first call-up in the national team after he joined the Rwanda Basketball League late in January. The combo guard currently plays for Tigers, whom he joined from Canada's Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas.

They were called up to Cheikh Sarr's 12-player squad that was announced on Sunday, 9 February, ahead of the final window of the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers that will take place in Morocco from 21 to 23 February.

Rwanda are third in the Group C table after they just won one of three games during November 2024's qualifiers, beating Gabon 90-63 while losing 81-58 and 70-59 to Senegal and Cameroon, respectively.

The three top teams from each of the five groups will qualify for the 16-national-team competition, slated for August 2025 in Angola.

Rwanda's full roster:

Axelle Mpoyo (APR), Prince Muhizi (REG), Antino Alvarezes Jackson Jr (APR), Lars Licken Ishimwe (Tigers), Ntore Habimana (APR), William Robeyns (APR), Jean Jacques Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (APR), Dieudonné Ndizeye Ndayisaba (Maghreb de Fes), Steven Hagumintwari (Patriots), Bruno Shema (Tigers), Cadeaux de Dieu Furaha (Patriots), Osborn Shema (APR), and Noah Bigirumwami.