Azerbaijani football club Sabah achieved an unusual feat in their debut Champions League league-phase match against Manchester United.
İdman.Biz reports, citing Opta, that Sabah became the first club in Champions League history to field a starting XI representing 11 different football associations in their debut match in the competition.
Kazakhstan's Stas Pokatilov started in goal. The defence featured Poland's Tymoteusz Puchacz, South Africa's Aiden McCarthy, Azerbaijan's Rahman Dashdamirov and Algeria's Akim Zedadka.
Uzbekistan international Umarali Rahmonaliyev and Croatia's Ivan Lepinjica operated in midfield, while Jamaica's Kahim Parris, Serbia's Veljko Simic and Nigeria's Christian Nwachukwu formed the attacking line behind Joy-Lance Mickels.
Mickels' case requires some clarification. He was born in Germany and holds German citizenship but is of Rwandan descent and represents Rwanda at international level. For the purposes of the Opta statistic, he therefore represents Rwanda.
As a result, Sabah's starting XI featured players representing Kazakhstan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Poland, Uzbekistan, Croatia, Jamaica, Serbia, Nigeria and Rwanda.
Notably, Dashdamirov was the only Azerbaijani player in Sabah's starting line-up.
Sabah's historic first match in the Champions League league phase ended in a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
