Durosimi Thomas BBC Sport in Accra

Ziese's ultimate goal is the 2006 World Cup

Ghana's new coach Burkhard Ziese has been quick to dismiss suggestions that his task with the Black Stars is a 'Bruno Metsu type mission'.

"I am still Burkhard Ziese who was here in Ghana as coach over a decade ago," he told BBC Sport after his first press conference.

"Bruno Metsu is a different person and he had a golden opportunity to take the Senegalese team to the World Cup."

Ziese is having to play down the expectations of fans who are expecting quick results after Ghana's decline as an African football powerhouse

Burkhard Ziese fact file Born 01.02.44 in Belgard, Germany Coached in Dubai, Mauritius, Tanzania, Sudan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand. Held coaching courses in Swaziland, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iraq, Albania and Saudi Arabia. Qualified Ghana for Senegal '92 Zambia coach at S. Africa '98 Returns to Ghana in 2003

He was coach when Ghana qualified for the Nations Cup in 1992 after the Black Stars had missed three consecutive tournaments.

Based on that success, Ziese now faces high expectations.

He is a popular figure in Ghana, where he is admired for his disciplinarian stance and his willingness to take on officials who get in his way.

But he is pleading that fans understand that he has no magic wand, just a determination to push Ghanaian football forward.

A friendly against Australia and a four-nations tournament in Tunis involving Tunisia, Cameroon and Guinea will be the initial yard-stick by which fans can measure his success.

The ultimate goal is qualification to the 2006 World Cup.

With that aim in mind Ziese has been in contact with Ghana's overseas stars, many of whom have said they are not interested in representing their country after disputes with Ghana's FA.

He wants to entice Bayern Munich defender Samuel Kuffour and former captain Charles Akunnor back to the team.

But despite their class, inviting them back could open up divisions with current players and risks a confrontation with Ghana's football authorities.

There is huge excitement over the German's appointment, but that could quickly wane if the Black Stars fail to qualify for the Nations Cup in Tunisia next year.

Ghana's shock loss to Uganda means there is no room for complacency.