From prison to a goal on AFCON debut
by Junaid Benjamin · KickOffAfter pursuing qualifications in nursing and working in a prison, a star has finally realised his dream with a debut goal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Uganda’s AFCON campaign began with a tough test on Tuesday evening as they went down 3–1 to Tunisia in Rabat.
The North Africans asserted control early on, taking the lead inside the opening ten minutes before adding two further goals either side of half-time to put the result beyond doubt.
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Despite being largely second best for long spells, the Cranes found a late consolation in stoppage time, with Denis Omedi marking his AFCON debut with a goal against one of the continent’s heavyweights.
The result leaves Tunisia and Uganda in Group C, with the Carthage Eagles sitting in a strong position after the opening round of fixtures, while the Cranes will need points quickly to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Attention, however, has shifted to Omedi and his remarkable rise to the continental stage.
According to Africa Top Sport, the 31-year-old’s path to AFCON has been anything but conventional. In 2019, Omedi was juggling life as a part-time footballer while studying towards a nursing diploma and later working as a prison warder. Professional football was not a certainty, but rather a dream sustained through discipline and persistence.
Six years on, that belief was rewarded. Stepping onto the AFCON stage for the first time, Omedi found the back of the net against Tunisia, turning years of quiet ambition into a moment that will live long in his memory.
Uganda will now turn their focus to their next Group C fixture, knowing that victory is likely essential to keep their knockout-stage ambitions intact.
Speaking after the match, Uganda head coach Paul Put was frank in his assessment of the performance but remained optimistic about his side’s chances.
“We showed them too much respect and were not aggressive enough. If you play AFCON, you need to win the duels,” Put said.
He added:
“We know what we have to do in the next game. A draw will not be enough, but I do believe that we can bounce back.”
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