ALMATY, Kazakhstan – Wetin happen today na wah! Kairat Almaty don turn up as dem don show Celtic pepper for UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Na 3-2 penalty shootout dem take send Celtic packing after two goalless legs on August 26, 2025. E be like say Celtic no sabi how to score penalty, as dem miss three chances when e matter reach shootout. Naim be Daizen Maeda wey carry last strike and chop am big time. Abeg, wetin happen to all those wahala wey dem dey make?
For Kairat, dis na big win as dem don qualify for the main Champions League for first time. Na wetin dem dey celebrate well today, and no be small! Dem dey shine like say dem get gold teeth. And look, Norway’s Bodo/Glimt and Cyprus’s Pafos join dem for the party after dem also handle their own matches with style. Bodo/Glimt manage win Sturm Graz 6-2 on aggregate even though dem lose 2-1 for Austria. Na like magic dem do am!
Sitting down there, Celtic fans dey cry for their bad luck while Kairat fans dey pop champagne. Dem don ready bring Champions League matches come their Arctic Circle stadium. You no fit blame dem, na wetin dem don dey dream of since. Kairat goalman, Temirlan Anarbekov, na hero today as e save three penalties – as if na dem dey play PS5 FIFA game!
Meanwhile, Pafos no wan carry last lag as dem shock Red Star Belgrade with late goal from Jajá wey knack dem 1-1 draw to push dem through on 3-2 aggregate. See as e be, no be small celebration for Cyprus as dem dey scream like say dem just land for jackpot. E fit shock you say Red Star, wey don win European title in 1991, now dey exit early. Their fans sef dey wonder wetin happen!
Now, all the lucky winners go dey enter draw for league phase on Thursday go Monaco. Make we see how E go be when dem draw PSG, Real Madrid and other big boys for the same stage. Na wah! Kairat Almaty don mark their spot with big bounce ten years after the last Kazakh team, Astana, feature in the group stage. Almaty dey far from England and Portugal, but dis win go carry dem far, dem dey ready to dey shine!
Meanwhile, Celtic dey plan wetin dem go do next, as dem don set to slip into Europa League with Red Star and Sturm Graz, hoping sey dis year go get dem better results. Four more qualifying matches go happen tomorrow, but wetin we go see be say the big teams still dey fight!
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