David GOMBE
Uganda Cranes legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango has made a surprise return to the national team four years after his retirement.
Onyango was among the 28 players summoned for the Uganda Cranes World Cup games against Mozambique and Somalia due next month at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
The gangly goalkeeper who plays at South Africa giants Mamelodi Sundowns made 79 games on the senior national team since making his debut in 2005 against Cape Verde.
He retired in 2021 having featured at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final tournaments and now could be among those to take part in the continental showpiece in Morocco this year.
In 2016 he was named as the best player in Africa.
Meanwhile, Salim Jamal Omar Magoola has also returned to the Cranes fold and has not featured for the Cranes since 2023.
Isima Watenga is injured and so misses out on the summoned team while captain Khalid Aucho has not been summoned for the games against Mozambique and Somalia.
The squad also has 11 players who featured at the CHAN 2024 team who are Joel Mutakubwa, Gavin Kizito Mugweri, Herbert Achayi, Hillary Mukundane, Joel Sserunjogi, Rogers Torach, Abdul Karim Watambala, Patrick Jonah Kakande, Allan Okello, Jude Ssemugabi and Reagan Mpande.
Joseph Mpande who features for PVF Cand FC in Vietnam and St Johnstone FC’s Ikpeazu Uchechukwu are the other notable players for the games.
Uganda will host Mozambique on Friday 5th September before taking on Somalia on Monday, 8th of the same month.
Full Squad;
