AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Denis Omedi hails electrifying Hoima crowd

Uganda Cranes forward Denis Omedi has lauded the Bunyoro faithful and Ugandans at large for creating an atmosphere that propelled the national team to a historic 1-0 victory over Libya at the newly opened Hoima City Stadium.

The match, which marked the official international debut of the venue during the AFCON 2027 qualification campaign, saw the Cranes claim all three points courtesy of Arnold Vula’s first-half header.

Speaking after the game, the Kitara FC star expressed immense gratitude to the home crowd, noting that the electric energy inside the stadium was felt by the squad right from the pre-match warm-ups through to the final whistle.

“The atmosphere was really electrifying. The fans came in really big numbers and we got motivated right from the warm-up session up to the end of the game,” Omedi said.

For Omedi, running onto the pitch in Hoima carried a deep personal resonance. Having established himself as a fan favourite with Kitara FC, returning to the region in national team colors felt like coming back home.

“The fans gave us a good atmosphere and all the support that they needed at last. We are always at home, be it Hoima or Namboole. Personally, I was home because I was in Kitara, I felt I was back at a place I clearly know well. The fans came in big numbers, and that is what you need from the crowd,” he added.

Omedi, who featured as a second-half substitute in the encounter, also highlighted the impact of the newly integrated players in Paul Put’s squad.

He credited the newcomers with bringing a refreshed competitive edge and tactical versatility that the team had previously lacked.

“The new players have brought a new mentality that we’ve been lacking before. We hope to learn new things from them, and the team has welcomed them well,” Omedi noted.

The 1-0 victory over Libya temporarily pushed Uganda to the summit of Group H with four points from two matches, maintaining momentum in their early preparation and campaign run for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

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