Rwanda coach Brian McKinstry says Ghana must hail the Wasps for their world class status insisting the victory over the Black Stars in 2004 sparked the West Africans into life.
The coach of the Wasps made this claim ahead of the clash between the two sides in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kigali next month.
Rwanda's victory over Ghana in 2003 prevented the Black Stars from qualifying for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Since then the Black Stars have been in blistering form reaching for every tournament of the Africa Cup of Nations and reaching the finals in 2010 and 2015.
Ghana also qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2006 and have qualified for all tournaments in the global competition.
McKinstry says Ghana must thank Rwanda for the defeat that brought seriousness into the Black Stars.
“Everyone knows that the last time Ghana came, Rwanda pulled off an excellent result. There are very different teams now and in fact looking over the record I wonder if Ghana did ever thank Rwanda for that result," the coach of Rwanda McKinstry said.
"You might say why thank you ? But Ever since that result Ghana has been on an upward trend. That was almost the result that made them wake up because since not qualifying for Afcon 2004 and the direction of the two nations football wise has been so different.
“Since then they have been at every Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup finals. And that was the high point for Rwandan football in the last generation whereas for Ghana it was the low point and they have went on a very successful trend.â€
As part of preparations, Rwanda will face Ethiopia’s Walia Ibex in a FIFA international friendly match which will be played in Kigali on Friday 28 August, a week before Rwanda’s AFCON 2017 qualifying match with Ghana.
After the Ethiopia friendly, Rwanda will host the Black Stars of Ghana in Kigali while Ethiopia play away to Seychelles in the second round matches of the AFCON 2017 qualifiers.
The Black Stars too will play Congo in an international friendly before taking on Rwanda in their second group H game in Kigali.
The West African giants overpowered Mauritius 7-1 in their opening qualifier in Accra two months ago and at the same time ; Rwanda registered a 1-0 away win against Mozambique in Maputo.
Against Ghana, Rwanda will be seeking to register a good result against Ghana to be able to remain on course of qualifying for 2017 Africa Nations Cup finals to be held in Gabon.