Baku: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has extended his congratulations to Sabah FK for their remarkable qualification for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase. The club secured this achievement following a triumphant aggregate victory over Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva.
According to Anadolu Agency, Aliyev expressed his joy and pride over the accomplishment on US social media platform X, highlighting the significance of the club's swift rise to success. He noted that Sabah FK's entry into the league phase of the world's premier club tournament for the second consecutive year underscores Azerbaijan's progress and its status as a sporting nation.
Sabah FK's qualification was cemented with a dramatic 5-2 extra-time win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva, overcoming a 2-1 defeat in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff. This victory positions Sabah as the second Azerbaijani club, following Qarabag FK, to reach the competition's main stage.
Established in 2017 and based in Masazir, north of Baku, Sabah FK clinched their first Azerbaijani Premier League title last season under the guidance of Lithuanian head coach Valdas Dambrauskas. Entering the Champions League through the Champions Path first round, the club defeated the champions of Wales, Finland, and Denmark before their playoff success against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.
Sabah FK will participate in Thursday's draw for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, entering as a Pot 4 team.