Conference League: Aboubakary Koïta fires AEK into league phase

Conference League: Aboubakary Koïta fires AEK into league phase

Photo: AEK Athens

Conference League: Aboubakary Koïta fires AEK into league phase

Three African players made important contributions for their clubs in the UEFA Conference League with Mauritania national team star Aboubakary Koïta among the standout players. The forward unleashed a trademark powerful strike as AEK Athens defeated Belgium’s Anderlecht to qualify for the league phase.

Koïta’s first half goal put AEK ahead at home after a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Belgium. Dereck Kutesa’s second half goal confirmed a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Greek club after Koïta scored his first goal of the 2025-26 season.

Zambia national team midfielder Miguel Chaiwa is not known for his goal contributions but the recent signing did all he could as Scottish club Hibernian were eliminated on Thursday. The 21-year-old contributed an assist and then a goal within four minutes of coming on as a second half substitute in Hibs’ 3-2 victory at Poland’s Legia Warsaw.
https://youtu.be/IsrBGrg3vJA?si=b_DXjBLqCug_6wby&t=288
Despite the second half revival, Hibs could not quite get the job done. Legia equalized the aggregate score in second half stoppage time and went on to win it in extra time to deal a heartbreaking defeat to the Scottish club.
Chaiwa made his full debut for Hibs in Scotland’s League Cup on August 17 and his impressive cameo on Thursday will be encouraging as he looks to establish a regular place with his new club.
Finally, Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Sadiq scored twice, including the opening goal inside two minutes, as Dutch side AZ Alkmaar dominated Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia 4-1. Sadiq nodded in from close range following a free kick to put the hosts on the front foot following a 2-0 first leg victory in Bulgaria.

Sadiq tapped in his second goal in first half stoppage time to complete a 3-0 lead at halftime for AZ, who advanced with a 6-1 aggregate victory to book their place in the league phase. The 25-year-old is off to an outstanding start this season with four goals in six games across all competitions.

The draw for the league phase is out with Sadiq and AZ set to begin with a home clash against Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava on October 2. Koïta and AEK begin against Universitea Craiova of Romania at home on the same day.

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