Connah’s Quay Nomads will compete in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time when they host FK Sarajevo at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday.
Andy Morrison’s men will take on the reigning Bosnian champions in a one-legged affair in the Welsh capital.
The club, which was formerly owned by current Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan, have won the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the last two seasons, and have some very capable players on their books.
We’ve taken a look at three in particular who the Nomads will need to keep tabs on throughout the match.
Mersudin Ahmetović
Sarajevo’s danger-man is striker Mersudin Ahmetović.
At 35 years of age, the 6”3 Bosnian has plenty of experience to call upon and was the league’s top scorer last season with 16 goals.
Since joining the Maroon-Whites from Sloboda Tuzla in 2016, Ahmetović has scored 52 goals in 107 appearances, averaging a goal every 2.1 games.
The forward also has experience at international level, having featured twice for his country in friendlies against USA and Mexico in 2018.
If the Nomads are to progress to the next round, keeping Ahmetović quiet will be of paramount importance.
Amar Rahmanović
Sarajevo midfielder Amar Rahmanović. (Photo: BosnianBeast60/Wikmedia Commons)
Another key player for FK Sarajevo is fellow Bosnian Amar Rahmanović.
Operating in the number 10 role, the 26-year-old offers a physical presence at 6”3 and has been a regular in the side since his move from Celje in 2017, scoring 17 goals in 67 appearances for the club.
The attacking midfielder has also been capped at youth level for Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing a total of 16 times for the under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 sides.
Krste Velkoski
Sarajevo’s captain is striker Krste Velkoski, who has been an important figure for the Giants since his move from Nakhon Ratchasima in 2017, having found the net 26 times in 85 appearances.
In the build up to the Champions League tie at the Cardiff City Stadium, Nomads manager Andy Morrison has described Sarajevo as a “very tight unit, very strong and organised. They’re full of internationals,” which is epitomised by Velkoski, who has 14 international caps for North Macedonia.
Despite scoring just twice in the league last season, the 32 year-old has 110 career goals to his tally, averaging a goal every 3.1 games.
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