Uganda’s most decorated footballer, Denis Onyango, is back between the posts for the national team after reversing his 2021 retirement. The veteran shot-stopper has been named in the Uganda Cranes squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Mozambique.
Onyango, 39, last featured for the Cranes three years ago before hanging up his international gloves, citing the need to make way for emerging talent following Uganda’s failure to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
But his return signals a major boost for a team in transition. Renowned for his composure, sharp reflexes, and commanding presence, Onyango’s influence extends far beyond shot-stopping—he is remembered for leading Uganda to the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, ending nearly four decades of absence from the continental showpiece.
That same year, his heroics for club and country earned him the CAF award for Africa’s best-based player.
Currently a mainstay at South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Onyango is expected to provide stability and guidance to a youthful Cranes side under pressure to deliver in the World Cup qualification campaign.
For Ugandan fans, the “old lion’s” return rekindles memories of historic nights and raises fresh hopes of seeing the Cranes soar on the international stage once again.
