Sabah FC makes history with Champions League qualification

On August 25, 2026, Azerbaijani club Sabah FC achieved a historic qualification for the Champions League League Phase after a dramatic 5-2 victory in extra time against Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The match followed a 2-1 defeat in the first leg, setting the stage for a crucial comeback in Baku. Managed by Valdas Dambrauskas, the team founded in 2017 secured its spot in the elite European competition for the first time.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva initially took a significant lead when Zlatanovic scored in the 10th minute. Sabah responded with an equalizer from Nwachukwu in the 38th minute, but Mizrahi restored the lead for the visitors in the 61st minute. Rakhmanaliev brought the score to 2-2 in the 74th minute, and a late goal in the 90+4th minute forced the match into extra time. During the additional thirty minutes, Sabah dominated and netted two more goals to secure the 5-2 win. The squad included Veljko Simic, who started the match and was substituted in the 87th minute. This victory marks a major milestone for Azerbaijani football as the club advances to the new league format of the Champions League.