Sierra Leone’s international, Umaru Bangura and his FC Zurich side have won themselves a slot in the 2018/19 Europa League group phase after the Switzerland top-flight club defeated Young Boys 2-1 in the Swiss Pokal Cup final played last Sunday at the Stade de Suisse.
Bangura, 30, was not part of the Zurich side that defeated Young Boys due to his recovery from surgery. However, the victory means his team will be joining the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and AC Milan in this stage of Europa League next season.
The Sierra Leonean native was in the Zurich side that defeated Grasshoppers 2-1 in the semis.
He has already claimed his second piece of silverware in Switzerland since his move In August 2016.
Bangura recently signed a new contract extension to remain at the club until 2021. He has been a pivotal figure in the Zurich club’s automatic promotion back to the Swiss top flight.
The City club has now won the Swiss Cup 10 times.
Villarreal, Real Betis, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Chelsea, Arsenal, Lazio, AC Milan, Marseille, Rennes, Krasnodar, Aves, Vorskla, Anderlecht, Akhisarspor, Jablonec and FC Zürich are all assured of a UEFA Europe League place next term.
All 17 of these teams are assured of a UEFA Europe League group stage slot.
A further 21 group stage berths will be decided via qualifying in the summer while ten more clubs transfer from the UEFA Champions League.
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