South African football will be represented on both sides when AGF Aarhus host Sabah FK in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
The encounter will see Bafana Bafana wing-back Gift Links come up against fellow South African defender Aden McCarthy as both players continue their pursuit of a place in Europe’s premier club competition.
South Africans on Opposite Sides
Links enters the tie with more experience in this season’s qualifiers after featuring regularly for Danish side AGF Aarhus.
The 26-year-old has already played 83 minutes in the Champions League qualifiers and remains an important part of AGF’s plans.
McCarthy, meanwhile, is hoping for a bigger role with Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK after making a brief appearance in the previous qualifying round.
Regardless of who progresses, South African football is guaranteed representation in one of the competition’s biggest qualifying ties.
Two Legs, One Play-Off Spot
The first leg will be played on 5 August at Cepheus Park Randers in Denmark, with AGF hosting the fixture at the neutral venue as their home stadium does not meet UEFA’s requirements for Champions League matches.
The return leg is scheduled for 11 August at Bank Respublika Arena in Azerbaijan.
The winner over two legs will advance to the UEFA Champions League play-off round, where a meeting with either Hapoel Beer-Sheva or Crvena Zvezda awaits.
Sabah’s Impressive European Run
Sabah FK head into the tie full of confidence after an impressive start to their maiden Champions League campaign.
The Azerbaijani champions have won all four qualifying matches played so far, eliminating Welsh champions The New Saints 4-1 on aggregate before dispatching Finnish side KuPS 3-0 over two legs.
Their defensive solidity has also stood out, with the club yet to concede a goal in the second qualifying round.
Big Opportunity for Both Players
For Links, the fixture presents another opportunity to showcase his quality on one of Europe’s biggest stages as he looks to guide AGF closer to the Champions League league phase.
McCarthy, meanwhile, will be hoping to earn more minutes and help Sabah continue their remarkable European adventure.
With a place in the play-off round at stake, both South Africans have the chance to take another significant step towards the UEFA Champions League.