Okumu’s Gent drawn against Qarabag in Uefa Conference League knockout Round

Harambee Stars centre back Joseph Okumu will be hoping to make it to the last 16 of the third tier UEFA Europa Conference League tournament for a second consecutive season as the Kenyan defender found out the opponent he would be facing in the knockout play-off round.

In the draw conducted on Monday afeternoon in Switzerland, Okumu and his Belgian outfit KAA Gent were drawn against Azerbaijan outfit Qarabag FK who dropped from the Europa League to take on Okumu’s team who finished second in Group F behind Djurgarden.

“We are wintering for the fifth time in eight campaigns in Europe! In the UEFA Conference League Knockout Round we draw Qarabağ from Azerbaijan. The matches will be played on 16 (away) and 23 February,” the club posted on their website.

Last season, the Belgian side made it to the last 16 where they eventually lost 3-1 on aggregate against Greek side PAOK.

According to the tentative schedule, the first leg matches are set to be staged on February 16 with the return leg played a week later with the 8 teams winning on aggregate advancing to the last 16.

Other notable draws made include Turkish side travelling to face Swiss giants FC Basel. Italy’s Lazio will also be looking to get past the challenge of Romania’s CFR Cluj.

Full Uefa Europa Conference League Fixtures

Qarabag FK (Azerbaijan) vs KAA Gent (Belgium)

Trabzonspor AS (Turkey) vs FC Basel (Switzerland)

Lazio (Italy) vs CFR Cluj (Romania)

FK Bodo/Glimt (Norway) vs KKS Lech Poznan (Poland)

SC Braga (Portugal) vs ACF Fiorentina (Italy)

AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) vs Dnipro-1 (Ukraine)

Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) vs FK Partizan (Belgrade)

PFC Ludogorets (Bulgaria) vs RSC Anderlecht (Belgium)