Pafos FC draws against Riga in the Conference League

Pafos FC secured their first point in the Conference League League Phase on October 22, 2026, after a 1-1 draw against Riga at Alphamega Stadium. Despite a sluggish first half where the visitors hit the post and dictated play, Ferreira opened the scoring for Riga in the 67th minute. Cristian Biel equalized for the Cypriot side in the 77th minute following a pass from Sema, salvaging a result that prevented a defeat but left fans and analysts concerned about the team's current form.

Manager Ricardo Sa Pinto implemented four changes to his starting lineup compared to the recent league match against APOEL, including bringing in David Luiz and Anderson. This draw earned Pafos a 133,000 euro performance bonus from UEFA, bringing their total European earnings to approximately 3.3 million euros. While the result keeps their European campaign alive, it adds pressure on the squad ahead of their upcoming domestic fixture against Nea Salamina. Following this match, Pafos will face Twente in the Netherlands on November 5. Meanwhile, APOEL is also managing significant personnel challenges, with Limnios and Carrillo recovering from injuries and Stafylidis and Sastre suspended for their upcoming league derby against Omonia 29th May.