The Uganda Cranes' assistant coach Leo Adraa has said the team is ready to battle against Ghana at the Kumasi Stadium on 22 June.

The Cranes face the Black Stars of Ghana in a must-win African Nations Cup match. "We are working so hard and the players' morale is high ahead of that game," said Adraa, who has taken charge of the team in the absence of coach Pedro Pablo Pasculli.

Mbabazi is in town to make amends for a poor show against Rwanda in Kigali (Photo by Eddie Chicco).

The Argentine World Cup winner left the country on 14 June to attend to his sick, 83-year old father in Buenos Aires, but is expected to link-up with the rest of the team ahead of the Sunday game.

Adraa, who guided the national U-23 side to 4th place at the 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa, said the Cranes players have recovered from the 1-0 loss to Rwanda a week ago and are focussing on the Ghana game.

"We are very ready for Ghana. We should not be written off easily like some people are saying. We beat Ghana in Kampala, so we can also go and beat them there," said Adraa, as he took the team through a morning drill at Namboole yesterday.

Irish based professional Charles Livingstone Mbabazi, who is reportedly in town was not at the training ground, while Argentine based Ibrahim Sekajja, whose team Ferro Carril Oester was promoted to the First Division, was expected last evening aboard a South African Airways flight.

"We are just waiting for the professionals to join us at least for tomorrow's (today) training before we fly out on Wednesday," said the assistant coach.

However, there are some injury worries. Midfielder Alex Isabirye has a muscle problem and goalkeeper Postnet Omwony cannot kick the ball far enough. Eighteen players and 5 officials are expected to make the trip aboard a Kenya Airways flight.

Meanwhile, information from Accra indicates that the Ghanaians are very angry after their 3-1 loss to the Harambee Stars of Kenya last Friday.

The Black Stars' German coach Bukhard Ziese has stepped up preparations before the players shift camp to from Accra to Kumasi.