The day Accra Stood Still for Rwanda

Ahead of Saturday�s clash between Rwanda and Ghana, Allsports.com.gh gives a throwback of how the Amavubis stunned the Black Stars in Kigali to deny them qualification to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, Rwanda handed Ghana a 1-0 painful defeat in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game played in Kigali on 6th July, 2003 to stage one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history. The win enabled Rwanda to earn a spot to participate in the continental showpiece for the first time and have since not made it again. The much important goal was scored by Jimmy Getete, just 7 minutes into the second half of the game. The athletic Rwandans dominated play and snuffed Ghana out in midfield for much of the ninety minutes. And once Gatete scored the goal, they were content to just sit back and defend as Ghana desperately sought the equalizer. With the Black Stars pouring forward in search of the vital equalizer that would have sent them to the Nation's Cup instead, Rwanda even created several scoring opportunities but were denied by superb goalkeeping from George Owu. At the blast of the final whistle, the noise level in the stadium grew as the East African country celebrated the historic victory. The victory over Ghana, four times African champions meant the Black Stars were absent from the biennial African football event for the first time since 1990. For Ghana, the defeat had already evoked strong reactions with all the criticism directed at German coach Bukhard Ziese. The German had declared before the game that Ghana could easily lose. Bukhard Ziese was sacked by the Ghana Football Association after that game.