By Martin Davies BBC Sport, Bizerte

Mulisa: "We nearly made it."

Rwanda will go home from Tunisia with mixed feelings. They became the only newcomers to secure a win but they also came within five minutes of making history.

Not since South Africa's win over Cameroon in 1996 had any debutant side won a match at the Cup of Nations finals.

Rwanda changed that with Sunday's 1-0 victory over arch-rivals DR Congo in Bizerte.

We didn't come here expecting to reach the quarter-finals but we nearly made it Jimmy Mulisa

The feat could have been all the more extraordinary had Guinea not scored a late equaliser in the group's other match in Rades, effectively ending Rwanda's hopes.

It emerged after the game in Bizerte that the Amivubi players knew of events in Rades.

Jimmy Mulisa came off the bench after 30 minutes to replace injured midfielder Olivier Karakezi.

He told the BBC Sport website that the Rwandan coaching staff had been keeping the team informed.

"They were communicating the score from the other game and urging us forward," Mulisa said.

The Ugandan-born midfielder played a key part in an adventurous side that featured three strikers.

Rwanda dumped out

He believes such bold moves had helped his side make an impression in their first finals appearance.

"We didn't come here expecting to reach the quarter-finals but we nearly made it," he said.

Prior to the game, many had predicted a grudge match because of the two country's past political rivalries.

But despite the match being hard-fought, the game was played in good spirit with only one booking.

"Actually we are political rivals, we knew it would be tough and it was," Mulisa accepted.

Now it is out of the way, the 20-year-old said his side intended to celebrate.

"I'm happy for all the Rwandese. We are going to party tonight."