Chances of Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma featuring in the UEFA Europa League stage/formerly group stage, in the new season with Swedish side Elfsborg, are high following their crucial 1-0 win away to Molde of Norway in the first leg of the playoffs.Ouma, who has been impressive at Elfsborg this year, clocked full-time in the match, staged at the Aker Stadium on Thursday night.Ahmed Qasem scored the all-important goal for Elfsborg in the 15th minute after Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo put through him.Elfsborg got to the playoff stage of the qualification round after eliminating Croatian side Rijeka 3-1 on aggregate while Molde saw off Cercle Brugge of Belgium by a similar margin.##NAJAVA_MECA_8283745##Following the win in Norway, Elfsborg will look to capitalize on home advantage and book a place in the Europa League in the return match set for Thursday next week at the Boras Arena.Once the second leg concludes, a draw will be conducted on Friday for the league, a departure from the past where teams would have been paired in groups.What is the new Europa League format?Kenyan midfielder joins Swedish giants AIK after turning 18The biggest change is to the group stage, which will become a single 36-team League stage. Each side faces eight different teams (four at home, four away).The top eight overall advance directly to the round of 16; sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout round play-offs, with the victors going through to the last 16. From then on it is a straight knockout.The first matches of the league will be held on 25/26 of September.CAFWCLQ: Police Bullets punch semis ticket despite loss to Ethiopian sideThe 2024/25 UEFA Europa League season will conclude at the Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on 21 May 2025.Meanwhile, Ouma and his club will turn their attention to this weekend’s league clash against IFK Goteborg.
