Joy-Lance Mickels set to make history as first Rwandan in Champions League league phase

Rwanda international Joy-Lance Mickels is set to make history after helping Sabah FC secure a place in the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time in the club’s history.

Sabah produced a remarkable comeback against Hapoel Be’er Sheva on Tuesday, winning the second leg of their play-off 5-2 after extra time to progress 6-4 on aggregate.

Mickels completed the dramatic victory in the 115th minute, scoring Sabah’s fifth goal of the night and putting the Azerbaijani side beyond reach.

The 30-year-old forward finished a remarkable turnaround after Sabah had twice fallen behind during the match. Igor Zlatanovic gave Hapoel the lead after 10 minutes before Christian Nwachukwu equalised for the hosts in the 38th minute.

Guy Mizrahi restored the visitors’ advantage in the second half, but Umarali Rakhmonaliev levelled the game again in the 74th minute.

With Hapoel still ahead on aggregate, Sabah needed a late goal to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Teller Mutallimov delivered in the fourth minute of stoppage time, sending the tie into extra time.

Sabah then took control in extra time after Hapoel defender Djibril Diop was sent off in the 100th minute.

Orphe Mbina put Sabah ahead on aggregate in the 101st minute before Mickels settled the contest with his strike 14 minutes later.

The victory secured Sabah’s first-ever appearance in the Champions League league phase. The club, founded in 2017, had previously been unable to reach the league phase of either the Europa League or Conference League.

For Mickels, however, the achievement carries an even greater significance.

The forward is set to become the first Rwandan player to feature in the Champions League league phase, marking a major milestone for both his career and Rwandan football.

Mickels has become an important figure for Sabah since returning to the club and was the leading scorer in the Azerbaijani Premier League last season as the club completed a domestic league and cup double. He has also established himself as one of Rwanda’s key international players.

His Champions League journey has already included several important contributions. In the previous qualifying round, Mickels scored and assisted as Sabah overturned a first-leg deficit against Danish side AGF Aarhus to win 5-2 on aggregate.

Sabah’s progress is also significant for Azerbaijan, with the club reaching the league phase of Europe’s elite competition for the first time.

The league-phase draw is scheduled to take place on Thursday, when Sabah will discover the opponents they will face in their first campaign at European club football’s highest level.

For Rwanda, the focus will be firmly on Mickels. His achievement gives the country a new milestone in the Champions League and places the Amavubi international on one of the biggest stages in European football.

A historic night for Sabah has therefore become an historic moment for Rwandan football, with Mickels preparing to become the first player from the country to compete in the Champions League league phase.