Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Crucial Match and Parts Ways with Two Key Players

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is preparing for a decisive second-leg match against Icelandic champions Vikingur tonight in Hungary at 20:30, aiming to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit and advance in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers for the first time since 2018. The club described this as a "moment of truth," acknowledging that the first match did not go as planned but expressing confidence in their ability to perform better.

The team’s European campaign will continue regardless of the outcome, with at least four more matches this summer. If they lose to Vikingur, they will enter the Europa League qualifiers against Swiss club Thun, and if defeated again, they will compete in the playoff round for the Conference League.

Tonight’s match also marks the final appearance of two club stalwarts. Kings Kangwa, one of the most influential players in Israeli league history, will play his last game for Be'er Sheva before transferring to Panathinaikos, which competes in the Conference League qualifiers. Kangwa rose through Be'er Sheva's youth ranks, returned after a stint in Serbia, and contributed significantly to the club’s league and cup titles with his leadership and key performances.

Another veteran departing is Helder Lopes, who ends his five-season tenure with 198 appearances. Lopes helped the club secure a league championship, two state cups, and two Super Cups, and was integral to their European campaigns. Both players leave behind a legacy of success and leadership at Hapoel Be'er Sheva.