Onyango back for Uganda to keep World Cup dreams alive
Former Confédération Africaine de Football Goalkeeper of the Year Denis Onyango has come out of international retirement at the age of 40 to help Uganda’s bid to keep alive their FIFA World Cup qualifying chances next week.
as they look to keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2026 finals in North America.
The South African-based veteran has been named by coach Paul Put in a 28-man squad for the Group G qualifiers against Mozambique on Friday, September 5 and Somalia on Monday, September 8.
Both games are being played in Kampala as Uganda seek to move up from fourth place in the group standings, where they are six points behind group leaders Algeria in the race for top spot and automatic qualification to the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. next June.
Onyango’s return is coupled with a recall for goalkeeper Salim Omar Magoola as Ismail Watenga is sidelined with injury.
Onyango, chosen as the continent’s best goalkeeper after Sundowns won the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in 2016, last played for Uganda in 2021 after which he retired from international football, while Magoola’s last outing for the Cranes was at the start of the World Cup qualifiers when they lost to Guinea in November 2023.
Uganda have also named uncapped forward Uche Ikpeazu, who plays for St Johnstone in Scotland in the squad and hope he will get his first cap. He is English-born to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces, Ethiopia), Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay, South Africa), Joel Mutakubwa (BUL FC), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Defenders: Herbert Achayi (Kampala Capital City Authority), Herbert Bockhorn (FC Magdeburg, Germany), Elvis Bwomono (IBV Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland), Elio Capradossi (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Azizii Kayondo (Slovan Liberec, Czech Republic), Gavin Kizito (Kampala Capital City Authority), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers), Jordan Obita (Hibernian, Scotland), Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion, England), Rogers Torach (Vipers)
Midfielders: Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Kenneth Semakula (Al Arabi, Kuwait), Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC, Rwanda), Joel Sserunjogi (Kampala Capital City Authority), Abdu Karim Watambala (Vipers)
Forwards: John Paul Dembe (Hacken, Sweden), Uche Ikpeazu (St Johnstone, Scotland), Patrick Kakande (SC Villa), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar, North Macedonia), Joseph Mpande (PVF-Cong An Nhan Dan, Vietnam), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa), Allan Okello (Vipers), Denis Omedi (APR FC, Rwanda), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara).