Full Breakdown
Sabah FK Secures Historic Champions League League-Phase Spot
8/27/2026, 11:20:18 AM
Background & Context
Founded in 2017 in Baku, Sabah FK rose from Azerbaijan’s second division to the Premyer Liqasi, winning the 2025-26 national title and two Azerbaijan Cups. Prior UEFA experience includes two Conference League campaigns.
Core Event: Playoff Victory Over Hapoel Be’er Sheva
On August 26, 2026, Sabah FK faced Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League playoff second leg at the Bank Respublika Arena in Masazir. After a 2-1 first-leg loss, Sabah needed a comeback.
- Igor Zlatanovic (Be’er Sheva) scored in the 10th minute.
- Christian Nwachukwu equalised before halftime (1-1, 3-2 aggregate).
- Guy Mizrahi restored Be’er Sheva’s lead in the 61st minute (2-1 night, 4-2 aggregate).
- Umarali Rakhmonaliev reduced the deficit in the 74th minute (2-2 night, 4-3 aggregate).
- In stoppage time, Tellur Mutallimov headed a corner home, forcing extra-time at 3-2 night, 4-4 aggregate.
During extra-time, Djibril Diop was sent off. Sabah capitalised: Orphe Mbina scored in the 101st minute, followed by Joy-Lance Mickels in the 115th, delivering a 5-2 second-leg win and a 6-4 aggregate triumph.
Data & Statistics
- Aggregate: Sabah FK 6 – 4 Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
- Second-leg: 5 – 2 after extra-time.
- First-leg deficit: 2 – 1.
- Sabah scorers: Nwachukwu, Rakhmonaliev, Mutallimov, Mbina, Mickels.
- Be’er Sheva scorers: Zlatanovic, Mizrahi.
- First Azerbaijani club to reach the league phase since Qarabag in 2017-18; Sabah is the second.
Official Statements & Responses
Hapoel Be’er Sheva coach Ran Kozuk expressed disappointment, acknowledging Sabah’s superiority on the night.
On-the-Ground Reports
The match featured dramatic swings. Sabah’s resilience was highlighted by goalkeeper Ofir Marciano’s saves and a defensive stand after Diop’s dismissal. The extra-time period saw three rapid goals, overturning a two-goal aggregate deficit.
Why It Matters
Sabah’s qualification marks its first appearance in the Champions League league phase and highlights the development of Azerbaijani football, providing the nation with a second representative in Europe’s premier club competition.
What’s Next
Sabah FK will join the league-phase draw on Thursday in Monaco as a Pot 4 side, facing eight opponents across the group stage.
Verbatim Quotes
“I don’t know what to say about [Djibril] Diop’s second yellow card; I’ll keep my mouth shut about that. But so many players really did a great job, and we will stay together going forward. We couldn’t create what we needed to in this game, but we changed formations in order to try and help us out. Ultimately, we didn’t deserve to advance, and Sabah did.” — Ran Kozuk, coach
“The fact that our clubs have earned the right to compete in the league phase of the world's strongest club tournament for the second consecutive year is another vivid indicator of Azerbaijan's progress in all fields and of the country's standing as a sporting nation,” — Ilham Aliyev, president
