Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango has expressed his joy following a return to the Ugandan Cranes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The 40-year-old has come out of international retirement after being named in Uganda’s squad for their upcoming qualifiers.
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Onyango has been included in a 28-man squad for Uganda’s two Group G matches against Mozambique on Friday, 5, and Somalia on Monday, 8 September.
The veteran goalkeeper initially retired from international duty in 2021 at the age of 36. However, he has now made himself available once again, eager to help his country climb to the top of the group standings.
Uganda currently trails group leaders Algeria by six points, as they chase automatic qualification for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Onyango expressed his joy at returning to the national team and explained why he felt compelled to come out of retirement at this stage of his career.
"I'm happy to be back, this is round two for me, When the call-up came, I shared the news with my Sundowns teammates, and they were very excited because they knew I had retired," Onyango said per Pan Africa Football.
"Some even wanted to see me back for probably the final time. It’s an incredible honour to return to the national team.
Despite being widely regarded as one of Africa’s top goalkeepers, thanks to his success with Sundowns, Onyango remains realistic, acknowledging that his return doesn’t guarantee him the number-one spot.
"There are no guarantees that I will start. The position is open, and whoever is ready and performs best will play. At the end of the day, we all want to see the national team win," he added.
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"Every team needs both senior players and young talent. The young ones bring energy, while the senior players provide calmness in pressure moments. We must share ideas, work together, and fight for good results."
