Uganda Cranes and Kitara FC forward Denis Omedi has been nominated for the prestigious 2024 FIFA Puskás Award. This recognition follows his jaw-dropping rabona goal against KCCA during the FUFA Super 8 quarter-finals on August 6, 2024 at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo.
Dubbed one of the most electrifying strikes in Ugandan football history, the goal came just moments after KCCA’s Joel Sserunjogi had opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort. Positioned on the edge of the penalty area, Omedi displayed extraordinary creativity and technical mastery, delivering a perfectly executed rabona that soared past goalkeeper Anthony Emojong and into the top corner. The audacious strike leveled the match at 1-1, leaving fans and commentators alike in awe.
The thrilling encounter ended in a 3-3 draw, with Kitara advancing to the semifinals on a 4-3 aggregate. However, it was Omedi’s moment of genius that dominated headlines and earned him a spot among the 11 contenders for FIFA’s coveted Puskás Award.
Omedi will compete for the honor alongside global stars such as Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, celebrated for his acrobatic overhead kick against Everton, and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United, who dazzled with a mesmerizing solo effort against Freiburg.
Should Omedi triumph, he would join an elite group of football icons who have claimed the Puskás Award, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Zlatan Ibrahimović. He would also become only the second player in history to win the award with a rabona goal, following Erik Lamela’s success in 2021 for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Puskás Award, named after legendary Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskás, honors the most spectacular goal scored in the qualifying period, which this year spanned from 21 August 2023 to 10 August 2024.
Fans across the globe can cast their votes on FIFA’s official website until 10 December 2024. The winner will be revealed during the FIFA Best Awards ceremony in January 2025, and Ugandan football enthusiasts are rallying behind Omedi to bring home this historic accolade.
