Veteran goalkeeper Onyango comes out of international retirement

Mamelodi Sundowns’ veteran back-up goalkeeper Denis Onyango has come out of international retirement and been included in Uganda’s squad for their next World Cup qualifiers as they look to keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2026 finals in North America.

The 40-year-old former African Goalkeeper of the Year has been named in a 28-man squad for the group G qualifiers against Mozambique next Friday and Somalia on Monday, 8 September.

Both games are being played in Kampala as Uganda seek to move up to fourth place in the group standings.

They sit six points behind group leaders Algeria in the race for top spot and automatic qualification to the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the US next June.

Onyango’s return is coupled with a recall for Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Omar Magoola, who was Onyango’s replacement but then fell out with Ugandan football officials.

The pair come in as Isima Watenga, formerly of Lamontville Golden Arrows, has been sidelined with injury.

Onyango 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, and hope he will get his first cap. He is English-born to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother.

He was called up to the Uganda squad for two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers five years ago, but the games were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević attempted to call him up again in April 2022, but Ikpeazu said he wanted to stay and fight for his place in the Cardiff City team, where he was playing at the time.

UGANDA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces, Ethiopia), Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay, South Africa), Joel Mutakubwa (BUL FC), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ismail Watenga (Golden Arrows, 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).