Rwanda look to Ghana for inspiration

The coach of the Amavubi has challenged his team to repeat their giant-killing exploit of 2004 in the upcoming Afcon

Rwanda coach Johnny McKinstry has set his sights on leading his outfit to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and has asked his charges to draw inspiration from the squad that defeated Ghana in the 2004 qualifiers.

The Amavubi Stars denied the Black Stars a place at the continental flagship competition 12 years ago courtesy of a famous 1-0 victory on home soil.

Currently in the same qualifying group with Ghana, Rwanda will face Mauritius in a doubleheader on Saturday and Tuesday.

“There were these big single results that sat amongst years of underperforming,” McKinstry told Fifa.

“People tell me how Rwanda beat the likes of Morocco and Ghana in Kigali.

“We’ve set ourselves a target of getting 12 points in the group. The aim now is to be on nine points after the games against Mauritius and if we can do that with two games remaining, knowing that we’re in touching distance of 12 points, we’re very confident that will be enough to reach Afcon next year.

“All of these boys would have been 10, 12, 14-years-old in 2004, watching that Cup of Nations on TV. They would have been at the stadium when they qualified.”

Rwanda are currently three points adrift of Ghana in Group H.

The Amavubi fell at home by a lone goal to the Black Stars in the first of the expected home and away fixture and would hope to spring a surprise in the return encounter in September this year.

McKinstry took over as Rwanda manager in March 2015.