Veteran Ugandan goalkeeper, Denis Onyango, has made a surprise comeback from international retirement to the Uganda Cranes national team for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Somalia.
Onyango’s return comes at a time when the team is faced with a goal keeper crisis after Watenga Ismail the Cranes Goal keeper suffered a serious injury in June 2025 in a friendly match against Gambia.
He was called out of retirement by Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put who explained to the press on August 27, 2025 that Onyango’s recall was necessitated by the injury crisis in the goalkeeping department.
“We have been facing difficulties in the goalkeeping unit. Onyango’s experience and professionalism, which I saw when he supported the CHAN team, make him the perfect choice to stabilize us in this critical qualification phase,” Coach Put said.
The 28-man squad will play against Mozambique and Somalia for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Somalia. The crucial qualifiers are scheduled for 5th and 8th September 2025 at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
Onyango currently the goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns, a top club in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) was a key player for Uganda in multiple AFCON tournaments and was named Africa’s best player in 2016 before retirement.
Notably, Onyango had also recently been hired as part of Uganda’s technical staff, showing his ongoing involvement in football beyond just playing.
The Uganda Cranes Selected 24-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Salim Magoola Omar (Richards Bay FC, South Africa), Alionzi Nafian (Defence Forces FC, Ethiopia), Joel Mutakubwa (Bidco FC, Uganda)
Defenders: Elvis Bwomono (IBV Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland), Herbert Bockhorn (FC Maydeburg, Germany), Elio Caprodossi (FC Universitatea Cluj, Romania), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC, Uganda), Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion FC, England), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC), Jordan Obita (Hibernian SC), Kayondo Aziizi (FC Slovan Liberec, Czech Republic), Achayi Herbert (KCCA FC), Gavin Kizito (KCCA FC)
Midfielders: Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC), Kenneth Semakula (Al Arabi SC, Kuwait), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA FC), Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia).
Forwards: Denis Omedi (APR FC, Rwanda), Allan Okello (Vipers SC, Uganda), Joseph Mpande (PVF Cand FC, Vietnam), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar, Macedonia), Regan Mpande (SC Villa, Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara FC), John Paul Dembe (AL Hackens, Sweden), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa, Uganda), Ikpeazu Uchechukwu (St. Johnstone FC, Scotland).
