Ugandan forward Jayden Onen is making a renewed push for a return to the national team, four years after his initial involvement with the Uganda Cranes was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Onen, 24, currently plays for FC Naples in the United States’ USL League One—the third tier of American football.
With two goals and an assist in 10 matches this season, he has played a key role in helping his side maintain a strong position in the league, where they sit third in a 14-team table.
Born in 2001 to a Ugandan father and an British-Jamaican mother, Onen’s footballing foundation was laid in some of England’s most prestigious academies, including Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
His professional career has spanned several clubs such as Brentford, Reading, Bromley, and Sheffield Wednesday.
In 2020, Onen was included in Uganda’s squad preparing for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
However, his hopes of an international debut were dashed after the tournament was canceled due to the global pandemic. Despite training with the Cranes at the time, he has yet to feature in an official match for the national side.
With his Ugandan passport secured and international eligibility confirmed, Onen is now aiming to reignite his Cranes journey.
Uganda has faced challenges in finding reliable attacking options in recent years, and Onen’s technical background, combined with his growing experience abroad, presents a potential solution.
If his current form continues, a second call-up could soon materialize—offering Onen a long-awaited chance to make his mark on the international stage.
