Goalkeeping Dilemma Facing Uganda Cranes Ahead of AFCON 2027 on Home Soil

A string of poor performances has laid bare a deepening goalkeeping crisis for the Uganda Cranes, raising serious questions about the team's future between the posts.

Defensive solidity has long been the bedrock of Ugandan football, but that foundation crumbled spectacularly during a recent tournament in Morocco. What was meant to be a crucial, must-win encounter against Nigeria devolved into a goalkeeping catastrophe, brutally exposing a problem that has been festering for four years.

The 3-1 defeat to the Super Eagles was more than just an elimination; it was the culmination of a crisis that began when legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango announced his international retirement in 2021.

At the time, the succession plan was expected to be smooth and decisive. Instead, a combination of indecision and sentimentality has turned what was once the team's most reliable position into its greatest weakness.

Onyango's surprising return from retirement was intended to bring stability, but it only served to highlight the team's lack of direction. Against Nigeria, Nafian Alionzi was thrust into the spotlight, and the Super Eagles mercilessly exploited his hesitation and a clear lack of chemistry with the defence.

Raphael Onyedika's two goals, both set up by Samuel Chukwueze, perfectly illustrated the uncertainty plaguing the entire squad.

This was not an isolated incident. Salim Magoola, who was reinstated after a puzzling exclusion, appeared rusty in the 3-1 loss to Tunisia. Across the three matches played, Uganda conceded seven goals, with each one telling a cautionary tale of goalkeeping failure: poor near-post coverage, slow reactions, bad positioning, and a failure to command the penalty area. Seven goals, seven distinct errors—a clear sign of systemic decay, not just bad luck.

Historically, the Cranes have compensated for a chronic lack of goals by being organised, resilient, and difficult to break down. Their goalkeepers and defenders were their insurance policy. In Morocco, that policy expired.

As the team heads home, the critical question is what comes next. Can Onyango realistically continue until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which East Africa will co-host, when he will be 42? Or is it time for him and his contemporaries—Magoola, Charles Lukwago, and Alionzi—to make way for a new generation, such as the promising Denis Kigundu?

Scrutiny is also falling on the coaching staff, with some observers questioning whether current goalkeeping coach Garry Oste possesses the same developmental influence as the late, revered Fred Kajoba, who masterfully managed the succession line for years.

For head coach Paul Put, this is an urgent issue that cannot be postponed. The goalkeeping situation must be addressed decisively and without sentiment. As the recent results in Morocco proved, a successful campaign cannot be built on such a shaky foundation.