Seven clubs have now secured their places in this season's UEFA Champions League league phase following the conclusion of Wednesday's play-off second-leg fixtures.
Qarabağ earned their spot in the prestigious tournament despite losing 3-2 in their second-leg match against Ferencváros. The Azerbaijan champions advanced with a 5-4 aggregate victory, showcasing their resilience in European competition.
Belgian side Club Brugge delivered a commanding performance against Scottish giants Rangers, securing a 6-0 victory in the second leg. This impressive result gave them a dominant 9-1 aggregate win, emphatically booking their place in the league phase.
Portuguese powerhouse Benfica also advanced after defeating Turkish side Fenerbahçe 1-0 in their second leg encounter, while Danish champions Copenhagen overcame Basel with a 2-0 win, progressing with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
These four clubs join Pafos, Bodø/Glimt, and Kairat Almaty, who had already secured their qualification on Wednesday. Notably, this marks historic achievements for clubs like Qarabağ and Kairat Almaty, representing growing football nations on Europe's biggest stage.
The qualification of these seven teams adds diversity to this season's Champions League, with clubs from Azerbaijan, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, Cyprus, Norway, and Kazakhstan all represented in the league phase.
Football fans across Africa and particularly in Nigeria will be watching closely as the tournament progresses, with several African players expected to feature prominently for these qualified teams.
The draw for the Champions League league phase will be conducted soon, determining the path these clubs will take as they compete against Europe's elite teams in the revamped tournament format.
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