Maccabi Haifa Faces Foreign Player Dilemma Ahead of Toto Cup Playoff

Maccabi Haifa is preparing for its upcoming Toto Cup playoff match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday, August 17, 2026. However, the team faces challenges with its foreign player roster. Andrea Novakovic will not participate due to registration issues, while Peter Agba currently occupies a foreign player slot. The club hopes to loan Agba out before the league opener to free a spot for the American-Serbian player.

A key issue revolves around defender Pedro, who has come off the bench in recent matches and is showing signs of recovery but is unlikely to start. This is partly because three foreign defenders, Yala Bataie, Wanderson Tsunami, and Nigel Lonwijk, are ahead of him in the lineup. If Manuel Benson is fit, he and Broninho are expected to start. Novakovic is marked as the leading striker, with six foreign players guaranteed spots in the lineup. The uncertain players are Cedric Don and Pedro, the latter earning over 300,000 euros per season. Given that Haifa paid 1.3 million euros for Pedro, no club is expected to cover his full salary or transfer fee. The only way to release him would be through a compensation arrangement similar to that of Matias Nahuel, with some staff believing Pedro deserves another chance after a difficult period.

If Pedro remains, it would mean no additional foreign players could be signed until January. Meanwhile, Itay Ehud has finalized terms to join Hapoel Petah Tikva on loan until the end of the season, with Maccabi Haifa retaining the option to recall him in January, following a pattern used previously with other players like Mohammed Abu Fani, Sharif Kiyof, and Basem Za'arura.