As the CAF Champions League heats up, Ugandan midfielder Allan Okello is brimming with confidence ahead of his team’s pivotal match against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly this Friday.
The match, set to kick off at 7 pm East African Time in Cairo, marks Yanga’s third group stage outing in the prestigious tournament. Despite a challenging history against their North African rivals—having lost five out of eight previous encounters—Okello remains optimistic.
“We just need to give 100 or 200 per cent to get the maximum points but hopefully, we get the result we want,” Okello stated in an interview with Azam TV upon Yanga’s arrival in Cairo.
Al Ahly, renowned as record African champions with an impressive 12 CAF Champions League titles, presents a formidable challenge. In contrast, Yanga is still in pursuit of their first title.
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Historical matchups between the two teams have painted a daunting picture, with Yanga’s only victory against Al Ahly dating back to their first meeting. The last encounter ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the Egyptian club in March 2024. However, Okello believes that past records will not dictate future outcomes.
“[Al Ahly] is one of the best teams in Africa, but nowadays, football is a game of margins. It depends on the players we have, and we really have quality players,” he asserted.
Highlighting the unpredictability of the sport, Okello added, “Whoever takes their chances tomorrow [Friday], defends well and plays offensively, you never know what comes. Football is a game of mistakes; we just need to reduce our mistakes. Hopefully, they [Al Ahly] will make mistakes, and we utilise them to get the points we need.”
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Both Yanga and Al Ahly enter the fixture equally placed in the group standings, with four points each. Yanga’s previous results include a 1-0 victory over FAR Rabat and a goalless draw with Kabylie, while Al Ahly claimed a convincing 4-1 win against the Algerian side, followed by a 1-1 draw against the Moroccans last November.
Okello, who made a stellar debut in a recent 6-0 rout of Mashujaa, will be pivotal for Yanga as they aim to secure a crucial victory against their storied opponents.
