Emmanuel Arnold Okwi officially announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday, bringing the curtain down to a career that spanned 16 years (2009-2025).
Okwi made his mark on the national team, scoring 28 goals in 95 appearances including two goals at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Kawowo Sports’ Joel Muyita brings you a detailed breakdown of each of Okwi’s goal in national team colours.
GOAL 1 (13th December 2009)
Okwi earned his first call to Uganda Cranes in 2009 under coach Bobby Williamson and was part of the squad that played at the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup hosted in Kenya.
His first goal for Uganda arrived at a crucial moment, coming in the 2-0 win over Rwanda in the final at Nyayo Stadium.
Dan Wagaluka scored the other goal to guide Uganda to their 11th CECAFA title.
GOAL 2 (2nd December 2010)
Okwi was part of Uganda Cranes squad for the 2010 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup hosted by Tanzania and Uganda was pitted in Group C alongside Kenya, Ethiopia and Malawi.
Okwi came off the bench to score an equalizer against Malawi at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium. Malawi had taken the lead through Victor Nyirenda as early as the second minute.
GOAL 3 (5th December 2010)
Still at CECAFA, Okwi scored in the 81st minute as Uganda secured a 2-0 win over Kenya to top the group with seven points. Andy Mwesigwa scored the other goal for Uganda.
GOAL 4 (8th December 2010)
Okwi’s fine form continued in the knockout stages at the 2010 CECAFA tournament, scoring against Zanzibar in the quarterfinals.
The game ended in a two-all draw with Okwi and Mike Sserumaga scoring for Uganda. The Cranes eventually won the penalty shootout 5-3 to progress to the semifinals which they lost to Tanzania.
GOAL 5 (12th December 2010)
In a thrilling third-place off match that Uganda won 4-3 against Ethiopia, Okwi was once again on the scoresheet. The other goals for Uganda were scored by Henry Kisekka, Tony Mawejje and Sula ‘Malouda’ Matovu.
Okwi ended the tournament with four goals.
GOALS 6,7 and 8 (28th November 2011)
The CECAFA Championship returned to Tanzania for the second year running and Okwi kept his fine form at the tournament going.
The lethal forward bagged a second half hat trick against Somalia in a group game as Uganda won 4-0 at Chamazi Stadium. The other goal came from Dan Wagaluka.
GOAL 9 (8th December 2011)
In the 2011 CECAFA Champiomship semifinals, Uganda faced Tanzania and the game ended 1-1 in normal time. Mrisho Ngassa gave Taifa Stars the lead before Andy Mwesigwa found the equalizer.
Uganda however went ahead to win 3-1 with two goals from Emma Okwi and Isaac Isinde (penalty) coming in extra time.
GOAL 10 (10th December 2011)
Uganda faced Rwanda in the final and had to come from two goals down to win 3-2 on penalties.
Meddie Kagere had fired Rwanda into the lead with a brace before Isaac Isinde and Okwi scored to force a draw in normal time.
He ended the tournament as joint top-scorer with five goals alongside Rwanda’s duo of Kagere and Olivier Karekezi.
GOAL 11 (3rd June 2012)
This was Emma Okwi’s first goal beyond CECAFA competitions and it came against Angola in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The game played at Estadio 11 Novembro ended in a one-all draw. Campos Braume had given Angola an early lead in the 7th minute but Okwi salvaged a point for Uganda with an 88th minute equalizer.
GOAL 12 (16th June 2012)
Uganda needed to overturn a 3-1 loss to Congo in the first leg of the preliminary round qualfiers for the 2013 AFCON.
Uganda put up a stellar performance at Mandela National Stadium, winning 4-0 on 16th June 2012.
Okwi, Andy Mwesigwa, Godfrey Walusimbi and Geoffrey Massa scored a goal each.
GOAL 13 (6th December 2012)
Okwi was part of the Uganda Cranes that featured at the 2012 CECAFA tournament in Kampala.
In the semifinals, Okwi was on the score sheet as Uganda defeated Tanzania 3-0 at Mandela National Stadium. Robert Ssentongo came through with a brace.
Uganda would eventually edge Kenya in the final.
GOAL 14 (15th June 2013)
Another goal against Angola for Emma Okwi. In the return leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Uganda edged the game 2-1 at Namboole.
Like it was the case in the reverse fixture, Angola took the lead this time through Ricardo Estevau but two late goals from Okwi and Tony Mawejje guided Uganda to victory.
GOALS 15 and 16 (31st August 2013)
Okwi bagged a brace as Uganda sailed to a 3-1 win over Botswana in an International Friendly game played at the Botswana National Stadium.
Frank ‘Machete’ scored the other goal for Uganda.
GOALS 17 and 18 (2nd December 2013)
Another CECAFA expedition for Okwi and this time hosted by Kenya, Okwi scored twice against Eritrea.
In a group game played at the Nairobi City Stadium, Okwi scored a brace as Uganda secured a 3-0 win. The other goal was scored by Hamis ‘Diego’ Kizza.
GOAL 19 (31st August 2017)
The famous game where Uganda Cranes under the guidance of interim coach Moses Basena defeated Egypt 1-0 at Mandela National Stadium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Emma Okwi scored the solitary strike of the closely contested game.
GOALS 20 and 21 (13th October 2018)
Enroute to qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Okwi was one of the key plauers of the squad.
He scored twice as Uganda secured a 3-0 win over Lesotho at Mandela National Stadium, the othet goal (penalty) coming from Faruku Miya.
GOAL 22 (22nd June 2019)
At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Uganda had a remarkable start defearing DR Congo at Cairo International Stadium.
Patrick Henry Kaddu and Emma Okwi got the goals for the Uganda Cranes.
GOAL 23 ( 26th June 2019)
Another goal for Okwi at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, this time coming in the second group game against Zimbabwe.
The game ended in a one-all draw witg Khama Billiat finding the equalizer for Zimbabwe after Okwi had fired Uganda into the lead.
GOAL 24 (8th September 2019)
This came in an international friendly against Kenya at Kasarani. The game ended in a one-all draw with Okwi scoring for Uganda while Kenneth Miguna got the goal for the Harambee Stars.
GOAL 25 (13th October 2019)
Another goal in an international friendly game for Emma Okwi. This came in the game against Ethiopia played at the Bahir Dar Stadium and the Cranes won 1-0.
GOAL 26 (17th November 2019)
A 2-0 win for Uganda against Malawi in the 2021 AFCON Qualifiers at Mandela National Stadium saw Okwi and Fahad Bayo score.
This was Uganda Cranes last game at the Stadium before it underwent renovation for five years before returning last year.
GOAL 27 (25th March 2022)
Uganda was invited in the Nowruz Cup in Uzbekistan and Okwi scored as Uganda played out a one-all draw against Tajikstan at Markaziy Stadium.
GOAL 28 (29th March 2022)
Okwi’s last goal in national team colours came in a heavy defeat (4-2) to Uzbekstan. Coicindetally, it was the only game in which he scored and Uganda lost.
