Derry City on collision course with Basel in Conference League qualifiers

Derry City in action against HB in the First Round

Derry City in action against HB in the First Round Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

FAI Cup holders Derry City are on a collision course with Swiss giants FC Basel in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. 
 
The Candystripes will face the 20-time Swiss champions if they defeat Kuopion Palloseura of Finland and Basel see off Tobol Kostanay of Kazakhstan in their respective ties. 
 

City beat Torshavn 1-0 in Derry in the first leg of their first round qualifier thanks to a Sadou Diallo goal after the first leg ended scoreless in the Faroe Islands.

They will now take on Finnish side KuPS with the first leg at home in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium next Thursday (kick off 7.45pm). The return leg is set for seven days later with a 5pm kick-off (Irish Time).

KuPS beat Georgian side 2-0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round.

Should City exit at this point, they will earn €550,000. This breaks down as €350k for second round elimination plus €200k (€100k for each round they played in).

A win in the second round to set up a tie with either Tobol Kostanay or Basel, would add a further €300,000 to that €0.55m pot.

Progression further to the play-off round would guarantee them €1.15m while the prize of group stage qualification is worth €3.34 m at mimimum.

Additional reporting by Macdara Ferris

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