As the Uganda Cranes prepare to take on Algeria in their opening match at the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 tournament, team captain Allan Okello is rallying his teammates with a powerful message of unity, purpose, and fearless ambition.
Okello, who will lead the team in his maiden CHAN appearance, believes that every player must take on a leadership role to achieve success.
“We need to give it our best,” Okello stated during the final pre-match briefing.
“Being a leader is a blessing from God, but on the pitch, everyone must be a leader.”
The 24-year-old playmaker is determined to make history with the Cranes, who have never advanced past the group stage in CHAN.
“Every player wants to make history for the first time, so everyone will give their best,” he emphasized.
Okello is aware of the weight of expectation and the lessons learned from past mistakes. In Uganda’s last meeting with Algeria, a 2-1 defeat during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Cranes showed promise but lacked composure in key moments.
“We played them in the World Cup qualifiers and lost, but we learned from our mistakes,” Okello said.
“There’s no room for error now. We need to make history in front of our fans, and we are prepared.”
Okello believes that the fans will play a crucial role in the team’s success, urging supporters to show up in full voice and spirit.
“You can get tired for some minutes, but when you hear voices behind you, you push on,” he said.
“So, we need fans to fill up Namboole tomorrow and in all the upcoming games. We can make history together.”
The TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 tournament, jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2 to 30, is exclusive to players competing in their respective domestic leagues.
Senegal enters the tournament as defending champions.
With Okello at the helm, the Uganda Cranes are poised to make a statement and create history in the tournament.
