The  Sundowns goalkeeper has signed a contract which will run until the end of the 2020/21 season.

“Sundowns have also tied down goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who signed a four year contract extension,” Sundowns said on their website.

Onyango who was voted the best Africa-based Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football has been outstanding for country and club.

The 29-year-old was an influential figure for Uganda Cranes in the African Cup of Nations 2017 in Gabon playing the first two matches but missed the last group game because of injury.

Onyango is the reigning ABSA Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season and his good form will help Sundowns win more trophies.

The Kampala-born keeper has been at the Pretoria-based outfit since 2011 and  is  currently ranked in the top ten goalkeepers in the world according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

The post Denis Onyango signs new deal at Mamelodi Sundowns first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The Black stars are one of the regulars in the continental competition whereas Uganda are making a return after 39 years.

The only previous Cup of Nations game between the two countries was the 1978 final which hosts Ghana won 2-0 in Accra.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 0-0 draw in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, a game which was played at Tamale Stadium on the 7^th October 2016.

Ghana has won the Cup of Nations in 1963, 1978, 1965 and 1982 while Uganda’s best achievement was runners up in 1978.

Uganda are the only East Africa nation in Gabon and have a battle on their hands if they are get out of their group with tough ties against Mali and one of the tournament favorites Egypt .

Uganda are under Serbian tactician Milutin “Micho” Sredojovic whereas Ghana are coached by Avram Grant.

Players to watch:

Uganda

Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango who was named as the best African-based player of 2016 by the Confederation of African Football after helping South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to African Champions League glory will be vital for his country

Ghana

West Ham’s Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew who has recently come back from injury will look to help his country against the Uganda Cranes.

What to expect

The Cranes will hope for a good start in their opening game to stand any chance of qualifying for the next round though Ghana are no push-overs.

SQUADS

GHANA SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Briamah Razak (Cordoba, Spain)

Richard Ofori (All Stars, Ghana)

Fatau Dauda (Ashanti Gold, Ghana)

Defenders

Andy Yiadom (Barnsley, England)

Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA)

Baba Rahman (Schalke 04, Germany)

Daniel Amarte (Leicester, England)

Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey)

Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium)

Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA)

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain)

Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy)

Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England)

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy)

Wakaso Mubarak (Panathanaikos, Greece)

Ebenezer Ofori (AIK, Sweden)

Samuel Tetteh (FC Liefering, Austria)

Forwards

Asamoah Gyan (Al-Ahli, UAE)

Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England)

Andre Ayew (West Ham, England)

Bernard Tekpetey (Schalke 04, Germany)

Ebenezer Assifuah (Le Havre, France)

UGANDA SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Salim Jamal Magoola (Al Merreikh, Sudan)

Robert Odongkara (Saint George, Ethiopia)

Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)

Defenders 

Timothy Dennis Awany (KCCA, Uganda)

Joseph Ochaya (KCCA)

Shafiq Batambuze (Tusker, Kenya)

Denis Iguma (Al Ahed, Lebanon)

Isaac Isinde (Unattached)

Murushid Juuko (Simba, Tanzania)

Nicholas Wadada (Vipers, Uganda)

Midfielders

Khalid Aucho (Baroka, South Africa)

Mike Azira (Colorado Rapids, USA)

Geoffrey Kizito (Than Quang Ninh, Vietnam)

William Luwagga Kizito (Rio Ave, Portugal)

Tony Mawejje (Thotur, Iceland)

Hassan Wasswa (Nijmeh, Lebabon)

Moses Oloya (Hanoi T and T, Vietnam)

Godfrey Walusimbi (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Forwards

Geoffrey Massa (Baroka, South Africa)

Faruku Miya (Standard Liege, Belgium)

Yunus Sentamu (Ilves, Finland)

Geoffrey Sserunkuma (KCCA, Uganda)

Muhammed Shaban (Onduparaka, Uganda)

The post AFCON 2017: Ghana Vs Uganda preview first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Cranes beat stiff competition from DR Congo and Senegal to the team of the year award after making history by ending a 38-year wait to qualify for Afcon.

Uganda Cranes team that qualified for the African Nations Cup finals in Gabon.

Meanwhile, Onyango got the better of Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Khama Billiat and TP Mazembe’s Reinford Kalaba, collecting 252 votes in the process. Billiat finished second behind Onyango with 228 votes, while Kalaba came in third with 206 votes according to Confederation of African Football (CAF)

The Uganda international helped the Brazilians lift their maiden Caf Champions League crown at the expense of Zamalek and was also influential in Uganda’s qualification to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The former Bidvest Wits shot-stopper becomes the first South African-based player to win the continental award.

On the Other hand, Riyad Mahrez become the first Algerian and maiden North African to win the best African player of the year accolade since its inception by the Africa De Football (CAF) in 1992.

The play-maker played an instrumental role in the historic Premier League triumph by English Club, Leicester City in the 2015/2016 season.

The winners were decided by the votes from the head Coaches or Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF, members of the CAF Media Committee, members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee and a 20-member panel of experts.

Full list of Winners:

African Player of the Year – Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa: Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)

Most Promising Talent: Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)

Youth Player of the Year:  Alex Iwobi (Nigeria and Arsenal)

Coach of the Year: Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Club of the Year: Mamelodi Sundowns

National Team of the Year:Uganda

Women’s National Team of the Year:Nigeria

Referee of the Year: Bakary Papa Gassama

Football Leader of the Year: Manuel Lopes Nascimento, President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation

Legend Award: Laurent Pokou, Former player of Cote d’Ivoire and Emilienne MBANGO, Former player of Cameroon

Africa Finest XI

Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint-Germain), Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia & Valencia), Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Joyce Lomalisa (DR Congo & AS Vita)

Midfielders: Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns), Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe), Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)

Substitutes
Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli), Salif Coulibaly (Mali & TP Mazembe), Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma), Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City), Alex  Iwobi (Nigeria and Arsenal)

The post Uganda Cranes,Denis Onyango crowned best in Africa in 2016 first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Yasushi Endo put the Antlers ahead two minutes after the hour mark before Mu Kanazaki sealed it with the second in the 88th minute.

Mamelodi Sundowns, representing the African continent nearly broke the deadlock after 13 minutes when Thapelo Morena’s low effort was saved by Sogahata.

Meanwhile, Antlers started seeing more of the ball as the half went on, although they struggled mount any serious attempts at Denis Onyango’s goal in the opening 25 minutes.

Sundowns should have broken the deadlock after 29 minutes when Percy Tau missed a one-on-one opportunity, before Khama Billiat blazed over from six-yards out a minute later.

It was one way traffic as Antlers had Sogahata to thank for keeping Sundowns at bay, as he produced a number of fine saves over the course of the first half.

The Japanese outfit, meanwhile, offered very little going forward and register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes.

Antlers were the better side in the second half, as Sundowns were restricted to counter attacks.

The Japanese outfit then broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when Endo fired past Dennis Onyango in the Sundowns goal posts.

Pitso Mosimane responded by introducing defender Siyanda Zwane for the in-effective Leonardo Castro.

Sundowns continued to push for an equalizing goal and also threw on Anthony Laffor and Sibusiso Vilakazi for the final 15 minutes.

However, Antlers sealed the win in the 87th minute, as substitute Mu Kanazaki was afford time in the box and placed the ball into the bottom corner.

Sundowns will now play in the 5th place final against Jeonbuk Motors on Wednesday.

Antlers take on Columbian side Copa Libertadores winners Atletico Nacionale in Osaka.

Line ups:

Sundowns: 36. Onyango, 27. Morena (Laffor 70′), 6. Arendse, 2. Nascimento, 4. Langerman, 8. Kekana, 13. Mabunda, 7. Dolly, 22. Tau, 28. Billiat (Vilakazi 78′), 25. Castro (Zwane 65′).

Antlers: 21. Sogahata, 3. Shoji, 6. Nagaki, 8. Shoma, 10. Shibasaki, 13. Nakamura, 16. Shuto, 18. Akasaki, 22. Daigo, 23. Ueda, 25. Endo.

The full list of fixtures:

Match 1

8th December, Yokohama: Kashima Antlers 2-1 Aukland Citya

Match 2: 11th December, Osaka: Jeonbuk Hyandai 1-2 America

Match 3: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-2 Kashima Antlers

Match 4: 14th December: Jeonbuk Hyandai vs Kashima Antlers

Match 5

Osaka: Atletico Nacionale vs Kashima Antlers

Match 6

15th December, Yokohama: Winner Match 2 vs Real Madrid

Match 7

18th December, Yokohama: (Third Place) – Loser Match 6 v Loser Match 5

Match 8

FINAL

Yokahama

Winner Match 6 vs Winner Match 5

The post Mamelodi Sundowns lose to Japanese champions Kashima Antlers in FIFA Club World Cup first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Onyango won the Champions league with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns following a 3-1 aggregate score over Egyptian side Zamalek on Sunday 23 October,2016 in Alexandria.

FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo promised that rewarding is open to everyone as long as they contribute to the development of football.

‘The intent of rewarding Onyango is to motivate all people contributing to the development of  football .The rewards will go to anyone who stands out in football either refereeing, administration and any other individual  whose contribution stands out’ ,said Magogo.

In 2015, Uganda Cranes goalkeeper (1978) Paul Mukisa Ssali was rewarded with a FUFA Presidential award,Faruku Miya and Sandra Nabweteme were voted as best football players for men and women respectively and got a car each.

A statement on fufa.com reads “We congratulate Onyango Denis and Mamelodi Sundowns for winning the CAF Champions League. FUFA has been following Onyango’s performances at his club and we are glad that he will end the year with a CAF Champions League”

Onyango will receive his title on 12th November, 2016 when Uganda Cranes take on Congo Brazzaville in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifier at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.

Dennis Onyango was amongst Mamelodi Sundowns’ players celebrate with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League football competition

The rewarding of stand out performers in Ugandan football will inspire more individuals to do more for football development.

The beauty about this all is that it cuts across and whoever who is engaged in football stands a chance to be rewarded.

This is a good trend to follow in the sporting world because it motivates more people to be involved in different sporting activities.

 Onyango who is considered by many as one of Africa’s most experienced goalkeepers  has been vital for the Uganda cranes  helping Uganda  ended a 38-year wait for a place in the African Nations Cup finals.

The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper is credited for good organizational skills; leadership and individual brilliance at the back which helps him organize his defence.

He has proved for a long time being  reliable in the stands and his fitness is vital for Sundowns and the Uganda Cranes in the pursuit of FIFA World Club championship and Russia FIFA World Cup 2018 respectively.

FUFA is on a good trend of rewarding standout performers in football and the government should also support such initiatives in all sporting circles.

The post FUFA to reward Denis Onyango with land title, promises more for top performers first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.