DENIS MASINDE ONYANGO BACK TO THE CRANES AFTER CLOSE TO 5 YEARS.

By George lwanga.
Uganda Cranes renowned goalkeeper Denis Masinde Onyango has returned to Uganda Cranes after close to five years of retirement.

The shot-stopper who plays professional football at Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa was part of the 28 men squad named by coach Paul Put ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes, who are fourth on nine points in Group G, will host Mozambique and Somalia on 5th and 8th September, respectively.

Onyango led Uganda to two AFCON qualifications in 2017 and 2019 and was named the best player in Africa in 2016.

His return comes at a time when there was a space in the goalkeeping department with Isma Watenga out injured.

Salim Jamal Omar Magoola, who has also been sidelined since 2023, also bounces back to the national team fold.

The other notable inclusions are Joseph Mpande and Ikpeazu Uchechukwu, who have been summoned several times but failed to honour any of the calls, this means Onyango goalkeeper could be in line to feature at AFCON 2025 slated for December in Morocco.

There are also 11 players from the squad that recently featured at CHAN 2024, including Reagan Mpande and Herbert Achayi, who have had a beautiful tournament previously at the CHAN and are earning their first call to the senior team.