"They Bleed Like Us": 1978 Legend Polly Ouma Rallies Cranes Ahead of Nigeria Showdown
MOROCCO – Tonight, the Uganda Cranes face one of African football's true heavyweights: The Super Eagles of Nigeria. While the pundits label this a clash between David and Goliath, the Former Footballers Initiative (FFI) views it through the lens of history, a history we wrote ourselves.
The Witness: Captain Polly Ouma
For FFI Executive Committee member Captain Polly Ouma, this fixture is more than just a game; it is a memory of our greatest triumph. Ouma was on the pitch in Kumasi during the 1978 AFCON Semi-Final when Uganda faced a terrifying Nigerian side, unbeaten and favored to lift the trophy.
"I remember the fear surrounding that Nigerian team," Ouma stated from the FFI Secretariat in Kampala today. "They were big, they were fast, and everyone said we had no chance. But on that day, we looked them in the eye and realized they were just men."
That day, goals from Abbey Nasur and the late Phillip Omondi secured a famous 2-1 victory, sending Uganda to its first and only AFCON final.
"We beat them with heart, not just skill," Ouma added. "I want the boys in Morocco to know: We did it in '78. You can do it in 2025. History is waiting to be repeated."
A Message from the Executive
The wider FFI Executive Committee joins Captain Ouma in sending a message of solidarity to Coach Paul Put and the squad. We acknowledge the frustration following the draw against Tanzania, but tonight offers the perfect stage for redemption.
FFI General Secretary John Kennedy Lubogo Mutatwala urged the team to ignore the names on the Nigerian team sheet. "They have stars in the Premier League and Serie A, but tonight they are facing the Cranes. Respect their ability, but play with the hunger of the underdog. If we close their spaces and fight for every ball, the result will come."
The Fraternity Stands with You
To Captain Khalid Aucho and the squad: You carry the legacy of the men who conquered the continent's giants. Play with no fear.
Fly high, Cranes.
