Uganda Cranes attacking midfielder Allan Okello is setting his sights on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as an opportunity to secure better club deals.
The 25-year-old, who has been instrumental in Uganda’s recent successes, believes that replicating his previous form on Africa’s biggest stage could open doors for him abroad.
Okello played a pivotal role in Uganda’s run to the 2024 CHAN quarter-finals, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, scoring three goals during the tournament.
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Allan Okello eyes AFCON 2025 as a launchpad for bigger club deals
Reflecting on his ambitions ahead of the AFCON, Okello stated, “For me as a player, being that I am the best locally based player in Uganda, this is quite a big tournament for me to showcase my talent and try to do my best to get wonderful deals ahead of me.
So that’s part of my ambition as a player in this tournament. So when we start the tournament, when the opportunity to showcase my talent presents itself, I pray it goes well.”
A three-time Uganda Premier League champion, Okello has enjoyed domestic success with both KCCA Football Club, winning the title in the 2016/2017 and 2018/2019 seasons, and with Vipers SC, claiming the 2024/2025 crown alongside the Golden boot having scored 19 goals.
His impressive performances in CHAN 2024 had already drawn interest from Tanzanian giants Simba Sports Club, as well as Kenyan heavyweights Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
Now, the playmaker is hoping to use the Afcon as a springboard to secure even bigger opportunities.
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Uganda faces a challenging group in the tournament, drawn alongside Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, and North African powerhouse Tunisia.
Despite the stiff competition, Okello remains focused on helping his side progress. “
First thing first is that we need to qualify for the group stage. We need to concentrate as much as possible to do that,” he explained.
The Cranes will kick off their AFCON 2025 campaign on Tuesday night from 11PM (EAT) against Nigeria, a fixture that promises to test their mettle immediately.
For Okello, it is not just about national pride but also personal ambition as strong performances could significantly enhance his prospects of moving to a bigger club abroad.