The scale of the mountain Cranes must climb in their first Nations Cup qualifying Group E fixture against Ghana today is such that drawing comparisons with Mount Everest would be an underestimation.

In every sense, the odds are strongly against Micho Sredojevic’s side, who find themselves in the most unprivileged position of having to topple the African giants without two of their best strikers.

Already without striker Emmanuel Okwi, the Cranes, for mysterious reasons, travelled to Kumasi without lead striker Massa —whose two goals in the preliminary stages earned Uganda a place in the group stages.

The Cranes collapsed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Niger on Tuesday and will need to recover their punctured confidence fast enough if they are to defy the odds against an immensely talented Ghanaian side.

Micho must have spent all week emphasizing to his players the need to play with courage and sticking to opponents capable of destroying them if given an inch of space.

Cranes’ plot will thus highlight the menace of stars Kwadwo Asamoah, Gyan Asamoah, Andre Ayew, Majeed Waris and ideally try to allow no room for them to dictate proceedings of the game like they did when Ghana thumped Egypt 6-1 at the same venue last year.

In winger Moses Oloya and midfielder Tony Mawejje, Cranes will feel privileged though to have such strong characters; such gifted footballers that should doubtlessly impose themselves on the hosts at the Baba Yara Stadium.