"The key for us is to start against Uganda before playing the host country," Ibenge said in an interview on www.CAFOnline.com.

"We have all our chances and to go as far as possible, we must do better every game."

Uganda coach Sebastien Desabre, though, is also confident his squad can rise to the challenges ahead.

"The Cranes are ready to compete," he said at a press conference, reported by the Uganda Football Association. "As a complete unit, we shall achieve a lot."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '49ec2650-4335-4888-acb2-492c306e7547');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Ibenge wants DR Congo to make fast start at Africa Cup of Nations'});