Arnold Vula scored on his Uganda Cranes debut as Paul Put’s side beat Libya 1-0 in Hoima to move to the top of AFCON 2027 qualifying Group H.
The victory moved Paul Put’s team to the top of Group H in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with four points from two matches. Uganda had opened its campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Tunisia before collecting maximum points against Libya.
Vula headed home an Allan Okello free-kick during first-half stoppage time. Uganda then protected the narrow advantage through a difficult second half to give supporters in Hoima a memorable competitive victory.
Uganda Survives Early Libyan Threat
Uganda started positively, with full-backs Nathan Asiimwe and Aziz Kayondo providing width and supporting the attack. However, Libya produced the more dangerous early chances.
A defensive mistake in the 10th minute allowed Ezzeddin Elmaremi to threaten the Ugandan goal. Captain Denis Onyango reacted quickly, leaving his line to close the forward down before he could finish.
Onyango was required again in the 23rd minute. The experienced goalkeeper produced a crucial close-range save to deny Elmaremi and keep the match goalless.
Those interventions proved important because Uganda was still attempting to establish control in midfield. Okello’s passing and movement gradually helped the Cranes move the ball into more threatening areas.
Okello and Asiimwe Drive Uganda Forward
One of Uganda’s most productive combinations involved Okello and Asiimwe on the right side.
Okello released the advancing Asiimwe with a well-weighted pass in the 15th minute, but no Ugandan attacker reached the resulting delivery. The pair combined again later in the first half, with Libya defender Ali Yousuf Abraheem making a timely interception before Vula could connect.
Rogers Mato also went close five minutes before the interval. The forward found space outside the penalty area, but his curling attempt travelled narrowly wide.
Uganda’s increasing pressure finally delivered a breakthrough in the second minute of first-half added time.
Vula Scores on His Uganda Cranes Debut
Okello delivered a dangerous free-kick into the Libyan penalty area, where Vula rose to direct a powerful header past goalkeeper Ayman Altihar.
The goal sent Uganda into halftime with a 1-0 lead and gave Vula a dream start to his international career. The 27-year-old striker plays for Belgian club Beerschot VA, whose official profile describes him as a physically strong centre-forward capable of competing in duels and operating inside the penalty area.
His movement and aerial strength were evident in the winning goal. Vula recognised the space, attacked Okello’s delivery and supplied the finishing touch Uganda had been searching for throughout the first half.
The Kawowo Sports halftime report confirmed that the header arrived on the brink of the interval.
Paul Put Praises Match Winner
After the final whistle, Put highlighted Vula’s ability to turn a limited opportunity into a decisive moment.
“He is a kind of player who can score a goal from nothing,” the Uganda coach said.
Put explained that he had monitored the forward for an extended period and believes Vula can continue improving within the national-team structure. The coach also pointed to the striker’s club performances as evidence of the attacking qualities he can offer Uganda.
Vula’s introduction increases competition in a forward department that also includes Mato, Denis Omedi and Kevin Owusu Boateng. Uganda has previously struggled to convert promising attacking situations consistently, making the emergence of another penalty-box option particularly valuable.
The debut goal does not settle the selection debate, but it gives Put another centre-forward profile ahead of the remaining qualifiers.
Cranes Protect Their Narrow Lead
Put replaced Vula with Boateng in the 59th minute as Uganda adjusted its attacking shape.
Libya continued to search for an equaliser and created a major opportunity in the 75th minute. Elmaremi found himself facing an open goal but failed to convert, allowing Uganda to preserve its lead.
Omedi replaced Okello in the 78th minute to provide additional pace on the counterattack. Allan Oyirwoth later came on for Mato as the hosts focused on controlling the closing stages.
The Cranes were unable to add a second goal, but they defended the advantage and completed an important clean sheet. Onyango’s saves, particularly during the opening half, were as significant to the result as Vula’s finish.
Group H Standings and Uganda’s Next Matches
Uganda leads Group H with four points after the opening two fixtures. Tunisia and Botswana have two points each following their 2-2 draw, while Libya remains on one point.
CAF’s official qualifying schedule confirms that Group H contains Uganda, Tunisia, Libya and Botswana. The qualifying windows continue with Matchdays Three and Four in November 2026. cafonline.com
Uganda will host Botswana in Hoima on November 11 before travelling to Gaborone for the return fixture three days later. Tunisia will face Libya twice during the same window.
Taking six points from Botswana would strengthen Uganda’s control of the group, but the latest result also shows why every fixture requires careful management. Both Libya and Tunisia have already demonstrated that they can create dangerous chances against the Cranes.
What the Victory Means for Uganda
The win offers Uganda more than three qualifying points. It strengthens confidence in Hoima City Stadium as a national-team venue and gives supporters outside Kampala another opportunity to experience competitive international football.
It also underlines the value of expanding the player pool. Vula entered the squad as a new attacking option and immediately influenced the group standings. His partnership with creators such as Okello could become an important feature of Uganda’s preparations for AFCON 2027.
For Ugandan supporters, the opening two matches have provided reasons for measured optimism: the Cranes earned an away point against Tunisia, defeated Libya at home and conceded only once across 180 minutes.
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Conclusion
Arnold Vula could hardly have asked for a better Uganda Cranes debut. His first-half header, created by Okello’s precise delivery, earned Uganda a hard-fought 1-0 victory and first place in Group H.
Put will recognise that Libya created chances capable of changing the result, but Uganda’s resilience, Onyango’s goalkeeping and Vula’s decisive contribution secured an important home win. Attention now turns to November’s double-header against Botswana, when the Cranes will have an opportunity to consolidate their promising start.
