Emmanuel Okwi has officially announced his retirement from international football at the age of 32.
The Uganda Cranes captain shared the news on his social media pages, expressing gratitude for his journey with the national team.
In his statement, Okwi reflected on the honor of representing Uganda, highlighting his pride in wearing the Cranes’ jersey and serving as captain.
“Representing my country on the international stage has been a fulfilling dream that came true. Donning the Uganda Cranes shirt always left a special feeling and captaining our team was an absolute privilege and honour.”
“An exciting new era for Ugandan football is coming up with East Africa hosting the CHAN later this August and subsequently the AFCON 2027 with many young footballers coming up. That is why, having cherished all those memories, I believe it is time for me to bow out and pave the way for our talented young football players.”
“I will always hold close to my heart the love shown to me by all the fans and my special thanks go to my family, Coach Bobby Williamson who handed me a debut, all the successive coaches thereafter with whom we created memories together through thick and thin and of course the leadership at the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).”
Okwi made his national team debut in 2009 under coach Bobby Williamson and went on to play 95 matches, scoring 28 goals of which 22 came in competitive games, the most by any Ugandan player.
He featured prominently in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring against DR Congo and Zimbabwe. After Denis Onyango’s retirement in 2021, Okwi was named team captain and last played for Uganda during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
At the club level, Okwi currently plays for Kiyovu SC in Rwanda. His career has seen him play for various clubs, including SC Villa, Simba SC, Young Africans, Etoile du Sahel, SonderjyskE, Al Ittihad, Al Zawra’a, and Erbil SC.
His retirement marks the end of an era for Ugandan football, as he leaves behind a legacy of leadership and goal-scoring excellence.
