Uganda national football team

The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. Their best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations was second in 1978.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Uganda women's national football team.

Uganda

Nickname(s)	The Cranes
Association	Federation of Uganda Football Associations
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (East & Central Africa)
Head coach	Johnny McKinstry
Captain	Denis Onyango
Most caps	Godfrey Walusimbi (105)
Top scorer	Emmanuel Okwi (25)
Home stadium	Mandela National Stadium
FIFA code	UGA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	77 (16 July 2020)[1]
Highest	62 (January 2016)
Lowest	152 (July 2002)
First international
Kenya 1–1 Uganda (Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926)
Biggest win
Uganda 13–1 Kenya  (Uganda; unknown date 1932)
Biggest defeat
Egypt 6–0 Uganda (Alexandria, Egypt; 30 July 1995)  Tunisia 6–0 Uganda (Tunis, Tunisia; 28 February 1999)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	7 (first in 1962)
Best result	Runners-up, 1978

Achievements

CECAFA Cup :

• 14 Times Champion (1973, 1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)
• 4 Times Runners-up

Competitive record

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1974	Did not enter									Did not enter
1978	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	3	4
1982	Withdrew									Withdrew
1986	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	1	3
1990										2	1	0	1	2	3
1994	Withdrew during qualifying									Withdrew during qualifying
1998	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	5
2002										2	0	1	1	4	7
2006										12	3	2	7	10	18
2010										6	3	1	2	8	9
2014										6	2	2	2	5	6
2018										8	4	3	1	7	2
2022	To be determined									To be determined
2026
Total	–	0/21	–	–	–	–	–	–		42	15	9	18	42	47

Africa Cup of Nations record Africa Cup of Nations record Host nation(s) / Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA 1957 Not affiliated to CAF 1959 1962 Fourth place 4th 2 0 0 2 1 5 1963 Withdrew 1965 Did not qualify 1968 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 2 8 1970 Did not qualify 1972 1974 Group stage 6th 3 0 1 2 3 5 1976 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 2 6 1978 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 0 2 9 7 1980 Withdrew 1982 1984 Did not qualify 1986 1988 1990 Withdrew 1992 to 2015 Did not qualify 2017 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 1 3 2019 Round of 16 13th 4 1 1 2 3 4 2021 To be determined 2023 2025 Total Runners-up 7/32 23 4 3 16 21 38 African Nations Championship record African Nations Championship Appearances: 4 Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA 2009 Did not qualify 2011 Group stage 15th 3 0 0 3 1 5 2014 12th 3 1 1 1 3 4 2016 12th 3 0 2 1 3 4 2018 12th 3 0 1 2 1 4 2020 To be determined 2022 Total Group stage 4/5 12 1 4 7 8 17 African Games Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991. African Games Record Year Result GP W D L GS GA 1965 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1973 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1978 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1987 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1991–present See Uganda national under-23 football team Total 4/4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup Main article: CECAFA Cup Gossage Cup Record Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA 1947 Fourth Place 4th 1 0 0 1 1 3 1948 Third Place 3rd 1 0 0 1 1 3 1949 Fourth Place 4th 1 0 0 1 2 3 1950 Fourth Place 4th 1 0 0 1 0 4 1951 Third Place 3rd 1 0 0 1 0 1 1952 Third Place 3rd 2 1 0 1 4 8 1953 Third Place 3rd 1 0 0 1 1 5 1954 Fourth Place 4th 1 0 0 1 0 5 1955 Third Place 3rd 1 0 0 1 - - 1956 Third Place 3rd 2 1 0 1 5 7 1957 Third Place 3rd 2 0 1 1 4 8 1958 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 1 2 3 8 1959 Runners-Up 2nd 3 1 1 1 3 7 1960 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 3 11 1961 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 1 15 1962 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 0 19 1963 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 1 5 1964 Fourth Place 4th 3 1 0 2 5 10 1965 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 2 12 1966 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 1 2 1 7 Total 20/37 0 Titles 41 4 4 33 37 141 East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup Record Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA 1967 Third Place 3rd 3 1 0 2 3 8 1968 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 0 8 1969 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 0 3 1 12 1970 Third Place 3rd 3 1 0 2 4 5 1971 Fourth Place 4th 3 0 1 2 2 8 Total 5/5 0 Titles 15 2 1 12 10 41 CECAFA Cup Record Year Round Position Pld W D * L GF GA 1973 Group Stage 5th 2 0 0 2 0 6 1974 Third Place 3rd 2 1 0 1 3 3 1975 Group Stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 7 1976 Group Stage 6th 3 1 0 2 1 4 1977 Group Stage 6th 3 1 0 2 1 4 1978 Did not enter 1979 Fourth Place 4th 4 0 2 2 3 8 1980 Group Stage 5th 3 1 0 2 2 5 1981 Group Stage 8th 3 0 0 3 3 9 1982 Fourth Place 4th 4 1 1 2 3 8 1983 Group Stage 8th 3 0 1 2 3 6 1984 Group Stage 8th 3 0 0 3 1 4 1985 Did not enter 1987 Fourth Place 4th 5 1 2 2 2 3 1988 Group Stage 7th 3 1 0 2 1 3 1989 Group Stage 6th 3 0 2 1 0 1 1990 Fourth Place 4th 5 1 1 3 3 5 1991 Group Stage 7th 3 0 0 3 4 7 1992 Group Stage 8th 4 1 0 3 2 14 1994 Did not enter 1995 Champions 1st 5 3 1 1 5 4 1996 Group Stage 5th 3 1 1 1 3 3 1999 Group Stage 10th 2 0 1 1 1 3 2000 Did not enter 2001 Group Stage 10th 2 0 0 2 0 8 2002 Group Stage 7th 4 1 1 2 1 3 2003 Group Stage 5th 2 0 1 1 2 6 2004 Group Stage 7th 4 1 0 3 7 11 2005 Third Place 3rd 6 3 2 1 7 6 2006 Group Stage 9th 2 0 1 1 0 4 2007 Quarter-Finals 7th 3 1 2 0 5 3 2008 Group Stage 8th 4 1 1 2 3 5 2009 Third Place 3rd 6 2 2 2 6 3 2010 Quarter-Finals 7th 4 1 2 1 4 3 2011 Quarter-Finals 7th 4 1 1 2 5 4 2012 Third Place 3rd 6 1 4 1 5 6 2013 Group Stage 9th 3 1 0 2 3 6 2015 Group Stage 10th 3 1 0 2 3 6 2017 Runners-Up 2nd 6 3 2 1 9 6 Total 34/38 1 Title 121 29 31 61 99 181 Other tournaments Year Round 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup Runners-up 1962 Ugandan Independence Tournament Runners-up

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2019

DR Congo  v  Uganda

22 June 2019 2019 AFCON	DR Congo	0–2	Uganda	Cairo, Egypt
16:30		Report	Kaddu  14' Okwi  48'	Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco)

Uganda  v  Zimbabwe

26 June 2019 2019 AFCON	Uganda	1–1	Zimbabwe	Cairo, Egypt
19:00	Okwi  12'	Report	Billiat  40'	Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon)

Uganda  v  Egypt

30 June 2019 2019 AFCON	Uganda	0–2	Egypt	Cairo, Egypt
21:00		Report	Salah  36' A. El Mohamady  45+1'	Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Maguette Ndiaye (Senegal)

Uganda  v  Senegal

5 July 2019 2019 AFCON	Uganda	0–1	Senegal	Cairo, Egypt
21:00		Report	Mané  15'	Stadium: Cairo International Stadium Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Kenya  v  Uganda

8 September 2019 Friendly	Kenya	1–1	Uganda	Nairobi, Kenya
	Muguna  51'	Report	Okwi  23'	Stadium: Moi International Sports Centre

Ethiopia  v  Uganda

13 October 2019 Friendly	Ethiopia	0–1	Uganda	Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
15:00		Report	Okwi  20'	Stadium: Bahir Dar Stadium

Burkina Faso  v  Uganda

13 November 2019 (2019-11-13) 2021 AFCONQ	Burkina Faso	0–0	Uganda	Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
19:00 UTC±0				Stadium: Stade du 4 Août

Uganda  v  Malawi

17 November 2019 (2019-11-17) 2021 AFCONQ	Uganda	2–0	Malawi	Kira, Uganda
16:00 UTC+3	Okwi  29' Bayo  68'			Stadium: Mandela National Stadium

All-time team record

Completely updated and corrected per the cited source on 4 July 2017 [2]

Against	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	9	2	4	3	8	13	−5
Angola	8	3	2	3	10	10	0
Benin	2	1	0	1	3	5	−2
Bahrain	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Botswana	5	3	2	0	7	2	+5
Burkina Faso	6	1	3	2	4	6	−2
Burundi	9	5	2	2	16	7	+9
Cameroon	4	1	1	2	5	9	−4
Cape Verde	3	2	0	1	2	1	0
Chad	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Comoros	2	2	0	0	2	0	+2
Congo	5	3	0	2	10	6	+4
DR Congo	11	4	1	6	8	22	−14
Djibouti	4	4	0	0	30	2	+28
Ecuador	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1
Egypt	16	1	2	13	12	33	−21
Eritrea	3	2	0	1	7	4	+3
Ethiopia	30	13	8	9	44	36	+8
Gabon	2	0	1	1	0	1	−1
Gambia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Ghana	11	3	4	4	8	11	−3
Guinea	6	2	1	3	10	12	−2
Guinea-Bissau	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3
Iran	1	0	1	0	2	2	0
Iraq	2	0	2	0	2	2	0
Ivory Coast	2	0	1	1	3	4	−1
Kenya	52	19	23	11	60	56	+4
Kuwait	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Lebanon	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2
Lesotho	2	1	1	0	3	0	+3
Liberia	4	2	0	2	2	4	−2
Libya	3	1	1	1	6	6	0
Madagascar	5	3	0	2	9	4	+5
Malawi	26	11	7	8	31	29	+2
Mali	3	0	2	1	4	8	−4
Mauritania	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6
Mauritius	5	3	1	1	13	5	+8
Morocco	3	2	0	1	5	3	+2
Niger	5	2	1	2	5	6	−1
Nigeria	7	4	1	2	6	5	+1
Rwanda	30	12	10	8	38	24	+14
Saudi Arabia	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2
Senegal	4	0	2	2	2	6	−4
Seychelles	3	3	0	0	8	2	+6
Somalia	19	15	3	1	59	7	+52
South Africa	2	0	0	2	1	3	−2
South Sudan	2	1	1	0	6	2	+4
Sudan	24	12	8	4	35	20	+15
Tanzania	51	28	16	7	92	49	+43
Togo	8	2	1	5	5	10	−5
Tunisia	5	0	0	5	1	16	−15
Yemen	1	0	1	0	2	2	0
Zambia	35	11	7	17	38	45	-7
Zimbabwe	15	2	8	5	10	13	−3
Total	468	194	132	142	647	517	+130

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2021 AFCON Qualifier against South Sudan national football team on 28 March 2020 and 31 March 2020 .[3][4]

Caps and goals as of 13 October 2019, after the match vs. Ethiopia.[5]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Denis Onyango (Captain)	(1985-05-15) 15 May 1985	78	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
	1GK	Jamal Salim	(1995-05-27) 27 May 1995	6	0	Al-Hilal
	2DF	Nicholas Wadada	(1994-07-27) 27 July 1994	59	1	Azam
	2DF	Joseph Ochaya	(1993-12-14) 14 December 1993	55	2	TP Mazembe
	2DF	Timothy Awany	(1996-08-06) 6 August 1996	34	0	Ashdod
	2DF	Bevis Mugabi	(1995-05-01) 1 May 1995	10	0	Motherwell
	2DF	Alex Kakuba	(1991-06-12) 12 June 1991	4	0	C.D. Cova da Piedade
	2DF	Ronald Mukiibi	(1991-09-16) 16 September 1991	3	0	Östersunds
	2DF	Elvis Bwomono	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998	0	0	Southend United F.C.
	3MF	Khalid Aucho	(1993-08-08) 8 August 1993	51	2	Misr Lel Makkasa SC
	3MF	Allan Kyambadde	(1996-01-15) 15 January 1996	23	1	El Gouna
	3MF	Taddeo Lwanga	(1994-05-21) 21 May 1994	19	1	Tanta
	3MF	Micheal Azira	(1987-08-22) 22 August 1987	12	0	Chicago Fire
	3MF	Moses Waiswa	(1997-04-20) 20 April 1997	11	1	SuperSport United F.C.
	3MF	Lumala Abdu	(1997-07-21) 21 July 1997	8	0	Pyramids
	3MF	Allan Okello	(1999-12-28) 28 December 1999	2	1	Paradou
	3MF	Jayden Onen	(2001-02-17) 17 February 2001	0	0	Brentford F.C.
	4FW	Emmanuel Okwi (Vice-Captain)	(1992-12-25) 25 December 1992	78	26	Al-Ittihad
	4FW	Bbakka Alexis	(1995-09-13) 13 September 1995	1	0	Umeå FC
	4FW	Uche Ikpeazu	(1995-02-28) 28 February 1995	0	0	Heart of Midlothian F.C.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Uganda in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Robert Odongkara	(1989-09-02) 2 September 1989	31	0	Horoya AC	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
GK	Charles Lukwago	(1994-11-24) 24 November 1994	5	0	KCCA	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
GK	Joel Mutakubwa		0	0	Kyetume	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
DF	Hassan Wasswa	(1988-02-14) 14 February 1988	81	0	Jeddah	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
DF	Murushid Juuko	(1994-04-14) 14 April 1994	41	1	Free Agent	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
DF	Isaac Muleme	(1992-10-10) 10 October 1992	39	0	Nitra	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
DF	Halid Lwaliwa	(1998-08-19) 19 August 1998	0	0	Vipers SC	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
DF	Mustafa Kizza	(1999-10-03) 3 October 1999	5	1	Montreal Impact	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
DF	Paul Willa	(1999-09-04) 4 September 1999	5	0	Police	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
DF	John Revita	(1992-01-17) 17 January 1992	5	0	Express	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
DF	Musitafa Mujuzi	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999	3	0	Proline	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
MF	Farouk Miya	(1997-11-26) 26 November 1997	65	22	Konyaspor	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
MF	Luwagga Kizito	(1993-12-23) 23 December 1993	43	1	Hapoel Kfar Saba	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
MF	Milton Karisa	(1995-07-27) 27 July 1995	23	2	Vipers SC	v.  Ethiopia, 13 October 2019
MF	Kirizestom Ntambi	(1992-06-27) 27 June 1992	5	0	Wakiso Giants FC	v.  Ethiopia, 13 October 2019
MF	Allan Kayiwa	(1997-10-07) 7 October 1997	4	0	Vipers SC	v.  Ethiopia, 13 October 2019
MF	Moses Opondo	(1997-10-28) 28 October 1997	2	0	Odense	v.  Ethiopia, 13 October 2019
MF	Muzamir Mutyaba	(1993-10-10) 10 October 1993	36	3	KCCA	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
MF	Nicolas Kasozi	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993	2	0	KCCA	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
FW	Patrick Kaddu	(1995-10-09) 9 October 1995	15	6	Ismaily SC	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
FW	Fahad Bayo	(1998-05-10) 10 May 1998	1	1	F.C. Ashdod	v.  Malawi, 17 November 2019
FW	Derrick Nsibambi	(1994-06-19) 19 June 1994	21	7	Smouha	v.  Ethiopia, 13 October 2019
FW	Bright Anukani	(2000-06-26) 26 June 2000	3	0	Proline	v.  Kenya, 8 September 2019
^DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. ^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. ^PRE Preliminary squad. ^RET Player has retired from international football. ^SUS Suspended from the national team. ^WD Player withdrew from the squad.

Records

As of 13 October 2019

Players in bold text are still active with Uganda.

Most Caps # Player Caps Goals Career 1 Godfrey Walusimbi 105 3 2009– 2 Tony Mawejje 83 8 2003–2017 3 Mawanda Wasswa 81 0 2006– 4 Denis Onyango 76 0 2005– = Emmanuel Okwi 76 25 2009– 6 Geoffrey Massa 72 22 2005–2017 7 Timothy Batabaire 65 0 2000–2008 8 Farouk Miya 63 22 2014– 9 Isaac Isinde 62 2 2010– 10 Denis Iguma 61 1 2012–

Top Goalscorers # Player Goals Caps Career 1 Emmanuel Okwi 25 76 2009– 2 Geoffrey Massa 22 72 2005–2017 = Farouk Miya 22 63 2014– 4 Geoffrey Sserunkuma 14 53 2002–2017 5 Brian Umony 12 36 2009–2015 6 Tony Mawejje 8 83 2003–2017 7 Derrick Nsibambi 7 21 2017– 8 Patrick Kaddu 6 14 2018–

Managers

[6][7][8]

• Alan Rogers (1965–1966)
• Robert Kiberu (19??–1969)
• Burkhard Pape (1969–1972)
• David Otti (1973–1974)
• Otto Westerhoff (1974–1975)
• Peter Okee (1976–1981)
• Bidandi Ssali (1982)
• Peter Okee (1983)
• George Mukasa (1984–1985)
• Barnabas Mwesiga (1986–1988)
• Robert Kiberu (1988–1989)
• Polly Ouma (1989–1995)
• Timothy Ayieko (1995–1996)
• Asuman Lubowa (1996–1999)
• Paul Hasule (1999)
• Harrison Okagbue (1999–2001)
• Paul Hasule (2001–2003)
• Pedro Pasculli (2003)
• Leo Adraa (2003–2004)
• Mike Mutebi (2004)
• Mohammed Abbas (2004–2006)
• Csaba László (2006–2008)
• Bobby Williamson (2008–2013)
• Milutin Sredojević (2013–2017)
• Moses Basena (Interim, 2017)
• Sébastien Desabre (2017–2019)
• Johnny McKinstry (2019–present)

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
2. FIFA.com. "FIFA Tournaments - Compare Teams - FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
3. "AFCON 2021 Qualifiers: McKinstry Names Squad For Double Header Against South Sudan".
4. "AFCON 2021: The Road To Cameroon Is Clear".
5. "Uganda (2019)". national-football-teams.com.
6. Zziwa, Hassan Badru (25 May 2009). "Rise and fall of Cranes coaches". The Observer. Uganda. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
7. "Rise and fall of Uganda Cranes tacticians". Soccer256 online. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
8. "Johnny McKinstry unveiled as Uganda Cranes coach". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2019-12-30.

External links

• Federation Of Uganda Football Associations
• Uganda at FIFA.com