NICOSIA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus President Demetris Christofias congratulated Apoel Football Club Thursday for qualifying for quarterfinals of European Champions League.
Apoel defeated French Lyon Football Club here early Thursday and breaks another record after it became the first football club in Cyprus to be qualified for the second round of the Champions League.
In a statement, government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that the president has sent letters to the president of the club Fivos Erotokritou and the coach Ivan Jovanovic, noting that Apoel' s success "promotes Cyprus and Cypriot football abroad."
"This is a historic distinction, which makes us all proud," the president notes in his letter to Erotokritou, and wishes for more success in the future.
Apoel defeated Lyon 4-3 on penalties, after the extratime at GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Apoel won the match 1-0 to level the aggregate score at 1-1. The French team had won 1-0 at home in the first leg.
Apoel was founded in 1926. It participated in the Champions League for the first time in 2009-10 season, but they were the last in their group competition. This is the second time for Apeol to play the Champions League.