Uganda’s veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango hailed his teammates after the Cranes edged Botswana 1-0 in Francistown to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification dream alive.
Forward Jude Ssemugabi scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute, heading home from a well-delivered corner to secure Uganda’s sixth win of the campaign.
The result lifted the Cranes to 18 points with one match left to play, maintaining their hopes of advancing to the next qualification phase.
Onyango, who returned to the national setup after four years of international retirement, expressed deep appreciation for the trust shown in him by the technical team and his fellow players.
“First of all, I have to thank the team for allowing me back,” he said after the match. “After four years away, I was given the opportunity to help where I can. Whether I play or not, I remain part of this group. The coaches trust me, and I’m happy to still play active football with Sundowns.”
The 39-year-old keeper, who has been a pillar for Uganda over the years, praised the side’s focus and discipline in managing Botswana’s physical style and aerial threat.
He said the win keeps the team’s dream alive heading into their final fixture against Algeria.
“In football, anything can happen. We don’t know how the results in Algeria will go, but we’ve given ourselves a chance,” Onyango added.
“We have 18 points now, and if we make the playoffs, it will be great for the team and the country. The most important thing is to keep winning and stay positive, especially with AFCON coming up in two months.”
Uganda will travel to Algeria for their final qualifier on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. A positive result could see them move closer to a historic World Cup playoff berth.
