Derry City paired with Dinamo Minsk in Europa League qualifier

Derry City boss, Kenny Shiels faces a tough test in the Europa League first qualifying round.

The draw was made in UEFA headquarters in Nyon Switzerland and the Candy Stripes were drawn at home against the Belarusians.

Kenny Shiels' men will host Dinamo Minsk at Brandywell Stadium on July 12th with the return leg at the 17,600 capacity Traktor Stadium on July 19th.

It's a second trip to Belarus for the Brandywell club in four years. Indeed, the last time Derry met opposition from Belarus was back in 2014 when Peter Hutton's side lost 6-1 to Shakhtyor Soligorsk over two legs in the second qualifying round.

Derry will receive â‚¬240,000 for securing their place in the qualifying rounds which has been increased from â‚¬215,000 from last season with subsequent rounds worth â‚¬260,000, â‚¬280,000 and â‚¬300,000 compared to â‚¬225,000, â‚¬235,000 and â‚¬245,000 last season.

And should the Candy Stripes defeat the odds and progress to the second qualifying round, they will face Dunajská Streda from Slovakia).

Elsewhere in the draw, Shamrock Rovers were handed a daunting trip to Sweden to face AIK while Coleraine drawn away to Spartak Subotica of Serbia in the first leg and Dundalk have been drawn against Levadia Tallinn of Estonia.