Onyango consoles Watenga after grave mistakes in Cranes defeat to Mozambique

Uganda Cranes’ former captain and ex-goalkeeper Denis Masinde Onyango has offered words of encouragement to Ismail Watenga after the latter’s costly mistakes in the team’s 3-1 loss to Mozambique in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Cairo, Egypt.

Watenga was at fault for all three goals, leading to his substitution at halftime as Uganda struggled in Group G.

Taking to his X platform (formerly Twitter), Onyango shared a supportive message for his fellow goalkeeper. saying; “Mistakes happen, Watenga Ismail. Even the best goalkeepers in the world have all made massive errors.”

“I have made errors. The difference? They don’t let those mistakes define them,” Onyango continued. Drawing from his vast experience, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalie emphasized the importance of mental resilience when errors occur.

 “As a goalkeeper, you live under a microscope. One mistake and all eyes are on you,” he wrote. “But listen carefully: The mistake is not what matters. It’s how you RESPOND that defines you.”

The 38-year-old further offered Watenga advice on how to recover quickly from mistakes. “You have seconds literally seconds to reset. So here’s how you bounce back fast,” he guided. “Own it. No excuses, no blame just accept it and move on. You’re human. It happens.”

Onyango stressed the importance of body language and confidence. “Stand tall. Your body language speaks volumes. Show confidence, and your teammates will trust you again.”

He also highlighted the significance of learning from mistakes. “The best goalkeepers don’t just recover they come back even STRONGER. Learn from it, and grow.” He concluded

Watenga’s performance contributed to Mozambique’s 3-1 victory, with Pepo scoring in the third minute after Watenga’s poor positioning.

Although Uganda briefly responded with a goal from Shaban Muhammad, Watenga errored again in the 16th and 38th minutes handing Mozambique a two-goal lead and victory in Cairo.

Uganda, on the other hand, suffered a third loss in five matches with only two wins, throwing qualifications hopes in despair.

Having safely landed home on Friday morning, the Cranes are now focused on their next home match against Guinea at Namboole on Tuesday, hoping to recover from the Cairo defeat with a win to reignite the 2026 World Cup dream.