Rwanda (left) are through to their first ever finals

Rwanda qualified for the African Nations Cup finals for the first time ever with a sensational win over Ghana in Kigali.

The result sent Ghana crashing out of a competition they have won four times.

At the start of play Rwanda lay bottom of Group 13, but a second half goal from Jimmy Gatete was enough to cause a football earthquake in east Africa.

Gatete's effort sent the Kigali crowd into ecstasy and suddenly Ghana - who only needed a draw to qualify - were staring at not making the finals for the first time since 1990.

The Black Stars began to pile on the pressure but found no way through a determined Rwandan defence.

The final whistle was greeted with wild cheering throughout the country.

"This is history in the making, our team for the first time has qualified for the Nations Cup," said Claude Hitimana, a young man who tore off his T-shirt and joined a surging crowd of fans outside Kigali's Amahoro, or "Peace", stadium.

Some 40,000 people had packed the ground to capacity, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who watched the game flanked by senior government officials.