Ghana defender Alexander Djiku has expressed his delight after Fenerbahce secured their place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Turkish giants overcame a scare to beat Swiss side Lugano 2-1 at home, sealing a 6-4 aggregate victory.
Lugano struck early through Hadj Mahmoud in the seventh minute, but former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko leveled for Fenerbahce in the 58th minute. Sebastian Szymanski then snatched the win and Fenerbahce’s progression with a dramatic 93rd-minute goal.
Djiku, who played the full match, was instrumental in his side’s progression. The former Strasbourg defender earned a solid 7.6 rating from SofaScore for his performance.
Taking to Twitter after the game, the Ghanaian international wrote, “Fighting Spirit ⚔️ 💛💙 Next round @championsleague @Fenerbahce.” The message clearly reflects his enthusiasm for the team’s achievement.
https://x.com/alex_djiku/status/1818385094161109412
Fenerbahce will now face French Ligue 1 side Lille in the next round, with the first leg scheduled for August 6 and the return leg on August 12. The winner of this tie will secure a place in the lucrative Champions League group stage.
Alexander Djiku and his teammates will be hoping to continue their impressive form and book a place in the main draw of Europe’s premier club competition.