APOEL fans flocked into the streets of the Cypriot capital Wednesday to celebrate their team becoming the first from the country to reach the last 16 of the Champions League after holding Zenit St. Petersburg to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
Supporters in cars draped in APOEL's flag honked their horns and bellowed chants praising the team through Nicosia's downtown.
Hundreds of fans wearing the team jerseys and scarves descended on the club's headquarters, some of whom built a bonfire in the middle of one of Nicosia's busiest thoroughfares, forcing police to divert traffic.
Among those celebrating was Michalis Eleftheriou who said the team's success have filled fans with joy and pride for an achievement that exceeded all expectations.
''We're first in the group and we've got another game to go,'' the 27-year-old Eleftheriou said. ''Whatever happens, happens. Anything is possible.''
APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic said he's the ''happiest man in the world'' and described his team's achievement as a dream come true.
''We managed to do something that even three months ago we had no right to even dream and today we're among the best 16 teams in Europe,'' Jovanovic said.
''I'm sure that APOEL fans today are experiencing some of the greatest moments in the club's history,'' he said, adding that the team is motivated to achieve even more. ''It's the crowning achievement of an effort by the whole team that started in the summer and I'm very proud of the people I'm working with, whether they are management but most of all the players.''
