Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Uncertainty Over Kangwa Ahead of Champions League Qualifier

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is currently in Iceland preparing for their first leg match against Vikingur in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, scheduled for Tuesday at 22:00. Amid these preparations, a significant question looms over the availability of the team's star player, Kings Kangwa. Greek club AEK Athens is pressing to finalize Kangwa's transfer before the match in Iceland. According to Greek sports outlet SPORT24, AEK is eager to complete the deal on Monday and is willing to pay four million euros for the midfielder.

The urgency from AEK is not only due to their desire to secure Kangwa quickly but also because of UEFA regulations. If Kangwa plays for Hapoel Be'er Sheva against Vikingur, he will be ineligible to represent AEK in the playoff round of the competition, where the Greek champions are expected to enter. However, he would be eligible to play for AEK starting from the group stage. While Hapoel Be'er Sheva must overcome Vikingur (or their next opponent if eliminated) to secure at least a spot in the UEFA Conference League group stage, AEK Athens is just two matches away from the Champions League group stage and would drop to the Europa League group stage if eliminated in the playoffs.

This means that if Kangwa participates in the qualifiers for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, he cannot play for AEK in the playoffs, prompting the Greek club to push for an early transfer before the Icelandic match. For Hapoel Be'er Sheva, this presents a complex dilemma. The club recognizes the difficulty in retaining Kangwa given AEK's interest and the substantial offer but wants him available to help the team advance and secure a longer European campaign.

Kangwa joined Hapoel Be'er Sheva in summer 2024 from Red Star Belgrade for around 800,000 euros. Last season, he was a key player in their championship-winning campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, and was named the Israeli Premier League Player of the Year. It remains to be seen whether Kangwa will continue training with the team and be available for coach Ran Kojukh on Tuesday, or if AEK's pressure will lead to a transfer before kickoff.