FUFA needs about Shs 40m for the crucial Africa Nations Cup 2004 qualifier against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Treasurer Patrick Isiagi said yesterday that the money will cater for accommodation for the Zambian team that will face the Cranes in the last international build-up on August 31.

"We need to get the team ready and pay all their allowances in time so that they are ready and only have to think about the game," Isiagi said. Cranes play Ghana, Sept. 7.

FUFA is already arranging to meet all the costs before even meeting the team's promoters Euromarkint (U) Ltd.

Euromarkint chairman Albrieux Giacomo wrote to The Monitor yesterday indicating that he will be in Kampala later this week to discuss and get a conclusive deal with FUFA.

Isiagi said they require about Shs7m to cater for accommodation for the team if they stay for the mandatory five days, about Shs1m for the local transport, US$3,250 and about US$2000 for the allowances and airfares for the referees from Somalia. He said they have not yet received good information from Somalia referees about their actual base so that the tickets are sent. Three officials from Somalia who handled the Hippos-Egypt tie a week ago were forced out of the country after they demanded for a refund from FUFA yet they had earlier indicated Nairobi as their base.

He said they have budgeted about Shs 4m to cater for the Zambian contingent that jets-in on Aug. 28.

" We cannot say no to any companies out there that want to come in and help the team," Isiagi added. The Cranes team currently in Alexandria, Egypt will tonight face the hosts in a build-up game before returning tomorrow and go straight into residential camp. He said the Ghana Football Federation hasn't said when they arrive.

Later when FUFA General Secretary Haruna Mawanda was asked about the Libya trip, he said the team must travel. "A team will travel between August 28-30 for the game against Libya," he said.

The fully paid trip may coincide with preparations for the Libya Revolution day set for Sept. 1. The Cranes team was supposed to travel to Tripoli on August 17, but the Libya FA pushed the trip forward. The national U-20 side visited Libya last year in August and lost 2-0 to the Libyan junior side.