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6 clusters · 38 sources · 32 days · First seen · Last updated

Celje's UEFA Champions League qualification journey

Overview

Celje’s high‑scoring run continued after a 3‑3 draw with KF Egnatia on 26 July 2026 and a 4‑0 penalty‑shootout win that took the club into the play‑off stage. On 3 August 2026, the club learned its next opponent would be FC Ararat‑Armenia, a tie offering a potential UEFA prize of more than €8 million. In the first leg of the third qualifying round on 4 August 2026, Celje was defeated 2‑1 by Ararat‑Armenia in Yerevan. Svit Sešlar gave Celje an early lead via a penalty, but Artur Serobyan equalised for the hosts before Carlos Franca secured the win. Celje secured advancement to the final qualifying round with a 2-0 victory in the second leg on 9 August 2026. Yaya Dukuly scored in the 83rd minute, followed by Benjamin Verbič in the 85th minute. Coach Vitor Campelos stated that the players “have written history for the club,” noting the achievement’s significance for Slovenian football and its national coefficient. In the final qualifying round, Celje faced Slovan Bratislava. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the second leg ended 2-1 to Slovan Bratislava in extra time. Andraž Šporar opened the scoring for Slovan in the 18th minute, and Svit Sešlar equalised for Celje with a penalty in the 34th minute. Cristian Martínez scored the decisive goal for Slovan in the 100th minute, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate win for the Slovakian side. Under the management of Yaya Touré, Slovan Bratislava secured a place in the Champions League league phase, while Celje will proceed to compete in the UEFA Europa League. On 8 September 2026, it was confirmed that Yaya Touré has made history as the first African head coach to lead a club into the UEFA Champions League league phase.

Entities

NK Celje · Vítor Campelos · Ararat-Armenia · Celje · UEFA Champions League

Timeline

  1. 26 days ago

    [SPORTS] 18 sources
    Yaya Touré leads Slovan Bratislava to Champions League league phase

    Yaya Touré has become the first African coach to reach the UEFA Champions League league phase, guiding Slovan Bratislava to qualification after a 2-1 extra-time win over NK Celje.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 4 sources
    NK Celje advances to Champions League final qualifying round

    NK Celje advanced to the final Champions League qualifying round after a late 2-0 comeback victory against Ararat-Armenia, with goals from Yaya Dukuly and Benjamin Verbič.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Celje fall 2-1 to Ararat-Armenia in Champions League qualifying

    NK Celje lost 2-1 to FC Ararat-Armenia in Yerevan, with goals from Sešlar, Serobjan and Franca; they must win the return leg at home to stay in the Champions League qualifiers.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Ararat-Armenia to host Celje in Champions League third‑qualifying round

    Ararat‑Armenia host Celje on 4 Aug 2026 in the Champions League third‑qualifying round, with the winner moving to a lucrative play‑off draw.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Ararat-Armenia and Celje advance to Champions League play‑offs

    Ararat-Armenia (3‑2 agg.) and Celje (penalties) have both qualified for the Champions League play‑off round, with coaches Manuel Tulipa and Vítor Campelos leading the advances.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 9 sources
    Egnatia and Celje finish 3‑3 in Champions League qualifying first leg

    Egnatia and Celje drew 3‑3 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second‑qualifying round, with goals from Papa Daniel, Mario Kvesić, Armandas Kučys, Fernando Medeiros and Ibrahim Diabate; the return leg

Sources

24ur.com · afrik-foot.com · agrupacionnuevoboca.com.ar · amp.sportsmole.co.uk · blueprint.ng · connectionivoirienne.net · denniksport.sk · esportesmais.com.br · europa.pravda.sk · fcinternews.it · football.fr · fuego24.com · futbalnet.sk · haberaktuel.com · habersitesi.com · info.delo.si · koroskenovice.si · libreinfo.net · limerickmentalhealth.ie · maisfutebol.iol.pt · megafon.si · mightytips.com · nettali.com · nouvelle-afrique.net · panamaamerica.com.pa · planetnogomet.si · sada-alsahel.net · siol.net · slovenskenovice.si · snportal.si · sport-tv.si · sport.aktuality.sk · sport.blic.rs · sport24.pluska.sk · sportklub.si · sportni-portal.si · ta3.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com

This summary has been updated 11 times: see revision history