Uganda Cranes 18 goals at Africa Cup of Nations

It is just three days to the start of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and Uganda will be one of the 24 nations that will feature at the biggest football extravaganza on the continent slated to take place from 21st June to 19th July.

This will be the seventh appearance for the Uganda Cranes at the tournament with their best performance coming in 1978 when they reached the final but lost 2-0 to hosts Ghana.

Kawowo Sports’ Joel Muyita brings you the 18 goals that Uganda has managed to score at the final tournament.

1- John Bunyenyezi
John Bunyenyezi was the first Ugandan player to score a goal at the Africa Cup of Nations coming in Uganda’s maiden appearance in 1962.

The tournament hosted in Ethiopia attracted only four teams including the hosts, Tunisia and United Arab Republic (present-day Egypt).

This, therefore, meant that the tournament would start at the semifinal stage and Uganda was pitted against the United Arab Republic.

The game played on 18th January 1962 at Haile Selaisse stadium ended in a 2-1 loss for the Cranes with Bunyenyezi scoring Uganda’s goal.

In fact, the Cranes took an early lead with Bunyenyezi scoring in the 16th minute before Mohammed Badawi and Selim Saleh scored for the United Arab Republic staged a comeback.

Uganda lost the third place playoff against Tunisia (3-0).

2- Polly Ouma
Uganda’s second goal at Africa Cup of Nations came six years later in her second appearance at the tournament.

The tournament had then grown to eight teams and the Cranes were pooled in group A alongside hosts Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Algeria.

The Cranes ended the group stages with no point but managed to score two goals, one coming from Polly Ouma coming in the 2-1 loss to Ethiopia on 12th March 1968.

3- Denis Obua
Still, at the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations, Denis Obua (RIP) also got onto the score sheet.

Uganda had lost its opening two games against Ethiopia (2-1) and 4-0 to Algeria.

It was in the final group game against Ivory Coast on 16th March 1968 that Obua pulled one goal back as the Cranes lost 2-1 to the Elephants.

4- Stanley ‘Tank’ Mubiru
This came in 1974, a tournament that was hosted by Egypt and Uganda once again was in the same group with the hosts like it was the case in 1968.

The Cranes then under German coach Otto Westhoff made an improvement earning their first ever point but still finished bottom in group A with Egypt (6), Zambia (4) and Ivory Coast (1) finishing above.

Stanley Mubiru’s goal as Uganda fell 2-1 to Egypt in the opening game at Cairo International stadium on 1st March 1974 was Cranes fourth goal at AFCON.

5 & 6 – Stanley ‘Tank’ Mubiru
Mubiru became the first and last Ugandan to score a brace at Africa Cup of Nations.

He did so as Uganda played out a two all draw against Ivory Coast on 4th March 1974.

In the same game, Ivory Coast’s Noel Koumane also bagged a brace.

7- Dennis Obua (RIP)
Uganda’s fourth appearance came in 1976 and still bore no fruits with the Cranes once again failing to go past the group stages.

And for the third time, Uganda was in the same group with hosts this time Ethiopia hosting the 1976 edition.

Obua’s goal against Ethiopia in the 2-1 loss on 31st March 1976 counted as Uganda’s seventh goal at AFCON and making him the only Cranes player to score at two different editions.

8- Jimmy Muguwa
This also came at the 1976 edition with his goal coming against Guinea as a consolation in the 2-1 loss.

Uganda ended at the bottom of Group A with no point while Guinea (5) and Egypt (4) advanced to the next stage.

Hosts Ethiopia finished third with three points.

9- Phillip Omondi (RIP)
Arguably Uganda’s greatest of all times, Phillip Omondi and the Cranes took the world by storm putting up their best performance when they reached the final in 1978.

The opening game for the Cranes on 6th March 1978 saw them stun the Congo Republic winning the game 3-1 with Omondi scoring the opener.

10- Eddy Ssemwanga
The tenth goal for Uganda at AFCON came in the same game through Eddy Ssemwanga as the Cranes eventually went ahead to claim their first ever win.

11- Godfrey Kisitu
He scored Uganda’s third goal in the 3-1 win against Congo at the 1978 edition to set the pace in Group B.

12- Sam Musenze
The second group game ended on a disappointing note for the Cranes falling 3-1 to Tunisia but Sam Musanze got the consolation for the Cranes.

13- Godfrey Kisitu
Uganda had fallen to Tunisia and thus needed maximum points to secure a slot in the knockout stage for the first time.

Uganda obliterated Morocco 3-0 with Kisitu scoring the opening goal of the game on 9th March 1978.

14- Moses Nsereko (RIP)
The KCC midfielder who eventually was named in the team of the tournament scored Uganda’s second goal against Morocco.

15- Phillip Omondi (RIP)
Omondi who was a hot property at the tournament in Ghana put the icing on the cake in the 3-0 win against Morocco to register his second goal at the tournament.

16- Abdullah Nasur
This came against Nigeria in the 1978 AFCON semifinals. Nasur opened the scores just eleven minutes into the game to give the Cranes a good start in a game they eventually won 2-1 to reach the final.

17- Phillip Omondi
He demonstrated once again that he was a key player for the Cranes at the 1978 tournament scoring the winner against Nigeria in the semifinal.

Eyo had leveled matters for the Super Eagles in the 54th minute but their joy was short-lived with Omondi helping Uganda regain the lead four minutes later.

Uganda eventually lost 2-0 to Ghana in the final.

18- Farouk Miya
A 39-year absence for Uganda at the Africa Cup of Nations came with disappointing results at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The opening two games in group D saw the Cranes lose 1-0 to both Egypt and Ghana and at least needed something to smile about as they bowed out.

This came in the final group game against Mali where Farouk Miya scored at Stade Oyem on 25th January 2017

Yves Bissouma later equalized for Mali and the game ended Inca one all draw.