Arnold Vula scored on his Uganda Cranes debut while veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango produced crucial saves as Uganda held off Libya 1–0 on Tuesday to move top of Group H in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Uganda Cranes delivered the result a packed Hoima City Stadium had come to demand, grinding out a tense 1–0 victory over Libya to take their points tally to four from their opening two qualifying matches.
Battling for the ball Uganda Cranes left-back Aziz Kayondo- Credit FUFA Media.
The night belonged to debutant Arnold Vula, whose second half strike proved decisive, and Denis Onyango, whose early interventions kept Libya from seizing control of a contest in which Uganda had to withstand sustained pressure.
But beyond the football, Hoima delivered its own statement.
Thousands of supporters turned up in huge numbers, filling the stadium and surrounding areas with a sea of Uganda colours and creating an atmosphere that remained intense from kick-off to the final whistle.
The crowd roared every Uganda attack, applauded every defensive intervention and, during the tense closing stages, repeatedly urged the Cranes to hold their nerve.
ONYANGO KEEPS CRANES ALIVE
Libya started aggressively and quickly exposed gaps in the Ugandan defence.
Onyango was forced into action as early as the 10th minute, denying Ezzeddin Elmaremi before producing another important save from the same player in the 23rd minute.
Those interventions drew loud appreciation from the Hoima crowd.
“Onyango has shown us why experience matters. Those saves kept us in the game,” one supporter said after the match.
Uganda gradually settled into the contest, with Nathan Asiimwe and Aziz Kayondo providing width while Allan Okello attempted to dictate play from midfield.
Okello almost unlocked the Libyan defence in the 15th minute when he released Asiimwe into space, but the resulting cross flashed across the danger area without a Ugandan touch.
In action Allan Okello- Credit to FUFA Media .
Rogers Mato also went close before the break, curling an effort narrowly wide as Uganda searched for the breakthrough.
VULA SENDS HOIMA INTO DELIRIUM
The breakthrough finally arrived after the restart.
Vula found the back of the net to give Uganda the lead and immediately turned a tense afternoon into a celebration.
For a player making his international debut, it was a dream introduction.
The goal sparked wild celebrations in the stands, with supporters chanting and applauding the youngster for delivering when Uganda needed him most.
“What a debut! We have been looking for players who can take their chances, and Vula has done exactly that,” another fan said.
Another supporter added: “This is what we came to Hoima for. We wanted to see the Cranes win, and now we have three points.”
Arnold Vula celebrating after scoring on his Uganda Cranes debut – Credit to FUFA Media .
Paul Put replaced Vula with Kevin Owusu Boateng in the 59th minute as Uganda looked to manage the game and protect their advantage.
LIBYA PUSH, CRANES REFUSE TO BREAK
The victory, however, was anything but straightforward.
Libya continued to push forward and came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 75th minute when Elmaremi found himself with a golden opportunity from close range.
He missed.
The stadium erupted in relief.
For the supporters, the final quarter of the match became less about footballing beauty and more about survival.
Every Libyan attack was greeted with nervous silence before the Ugandan crowd erupted whenever the danger was cleared.
Put made further changes, sending on Denis Omedi for Okello in the 78th minute before Allan Oyirwoth replaced Mato five minutes from time.
The final minutes were played under enormous pressure, but Uganda’s defence held firm.
Then came the whistle.
Hoima exploded.
Players celebrated, supporters danced and the tension that had gripped the stadium for much of the second half finally disappeared.
HOIMA ANSWERS THE CALL
The overwhelming turnout was one of the biggest talking points of the night.
Supporters had travelled to Hoima determined to give the Cranes a home advantage, and the response from the stands never dropped despite Libya’s late pressure.
“The fans were fantastic tonight. You could feel the support from the first minute,” one supporter said.
Another added: “We may not have played the perfect game, but football is about results in qualifiers. We have four points and we are top. That is what matters.”
There was also widespread excitement about Vula’s emergence.
“Remember that name Arnold Vula. He has started his Cranes journey with a goal,” a jubilant supporter said.
Others reserved special praise for Onyango, whose first half saves gave Uganda the platform from which to eventually claim victory.
The result means Uganda have four points from two matches, following their 1–1 draw with Tunisia before Tuesday’s victory over Libya.
The Cranes now sit at the summit of Group H, although they already qualified automatically with the hist card making tge race tight for Libya, Botswana and Tunisia.
For Paul Put’s side, the Hoima victory was not a flawless performance.
It was something perhaps more valuable a hard earned win built on resilience, a decisive debut goal, experienced goalkeeping and the overwhelming backing of a home crowd that refused to stop believing.
And as the supporters streamed out of Hoima City Stadium, one message echoed louder than any other:
Uganda had three points and the Cranes were on top.