FUFA President Denis Obua has tipped the Cranes to beat the fancied Black Stars of Ghana on Sept. 7 in the Africa Nations Cup 2004 qualifying tie at the Nakivubo Stadium.

Obua said there's nothing so special about the Ghanaians. He said Uganda has beaten them before.

"I am very optimistic our team will beat Ghana. We have had a number of build-ups and I am also comfortable with the technical bench," Obua told The Monitor in an interview, Wednesday.

He said although some people are pessimistic about the team's potential, he's happy with the way the team played the build-ups.

"We have had a number of build-ups in Kenya, Sudan and now Egypt. So we must be able to beat Ghana, unless God is surely not on our side," Obua said.

Obua was on the team that lost 2-0 to the Black Stars in the 1978 Nations Cup final in Accra. But the Cranes under Nigerian coach Harrison Okagube revenged in 2001 in the Castle lager Cup in Nairobi. The Cranes beat a star studded Ghana side 2-1.

The Ghanaians however put-up a good show at this year's Nations Cup. They lost to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

About the federation's performance since his re-election December, Obua said he's very happy with the way things are moving.

"My executive members are really working, FIFA is giving us more money and the Goal project money for building the new FUFA headquarters is also starting to come in," he said.

Obua said he's determined to work with everyone to develop football in the country.

The Cranes who fly back from Egypt at 1.30p.m today have so far played seven international build-ups, won three, lost three and drawn once.

The team beat Korean side Hallelujah 2-1, drew 0-0 with Harambee Stars of Kenya, beat Chemelii of Kenya 1-0 and lost 2-1 to Sudan. They also drew 0-0 with CECAFA Challenge Cup holders Ethiopia, beat Chad 2-1 and lost 2-0 to Egypt on Tuesday night. They will wind-up their extensive build-up campaign against Chipolopolo of Zambia on August 31 at Nakivubo.

Meanwhile, yesterday the FUFA general secretary Haruna Mawanda, said the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has not notified the federation when their team will be arriving in Uganda. "We are still waiting for their communication " Mawanda added. After the Ghana game, the Cranes will take on Rwanda next.