Northern Cyprus national football team

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Northern Cyprus
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationKıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu
ConfederationConIFA
NF-Board
Head coach[1]
Most caps (25)
Top scorerHalil Turan (10)
Home stadiumNicosia Atatürk Stadium
First colours
Second colours
First international
Turkey Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey 
(1962)
Biggest win
 Northern Cyprus 15–0 Darfur 
(Arbil, Iraq; 4 June 2012)
Biggest defeat
Turkey Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey 
(1962)
 Turkey 5–0 Turkish Cypriots Turkey
(İzmir, Turkey; 28 September 1980)
ConIFA World Football Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2016)
Best result2nd (2018)

The Northern Cyprus national football team (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Millî Futbol Takımı) represents Northern Cyprus, a de facto country, in association football. They were a member of the New Federations Board for non-FIFA-affiliated nations, until its dissolution in 2013. Northern Cyprus' home stadium is Nicosia Atatürk Stadium in North Nicosia and their head coach is Fırat Canova. They are the current FIFI Wild Cup champions, having won the event in Germany in June 2006. They are also the current ELF Cup champions, having won the event at home in November 2006.

Due to an ongoing sports embargo against Northern Cyprus, the team cannot play international matches with FIFA members.

History[]

Origins (1955–1962)[]

The Cyprus Turkish Football Federation (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu, KTFF) was formed as early as 1955 – a consequence of Turkish Cypriot clubs withdrawing from playing in Cypriot sport competitions. Turkish Cypriots first played with a representative national side in 1962, against Turkey. This was before the 1974 war which caused the de facto partition of Cyprus and - as such - participating players were Turkish speakers from all over Cyprus.

Islamic Games (1980)[]

Despite not being considered an independent country, Northern Cyprus played in the 1980 Islamic Games football tournament, which was held in Izmir, Turkey. They suffered a 5–0 defeat against Turkey, their worst to date. Other results were a 2–0 loss against Saudi Arabia, 2–1 victory against Malaysia, and a 1–1 tie with Libya.

Reportedly, these matches were tolerated by FIFA as a result of an agreement with then-FIFA General Secretary Helmut Käser. After Northern Cyprus declared itself independent in 1983, this deal came to an end, leaving the Northern Cypriot team unable to play against FIFA-affiliated countries.[3][4]

After the foundation of TRNC (1983–2004)[]

After the foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983, the KTFF hosted in 1999, winning the event.

NF-Board (2004–2013)[]

KTFF joined the NF-Board in 2004, expanding the horizons of the national team. KTFF hosted the KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup in 2005, winning the event. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus won the first NF-Board tournament, the FIFI Wild Cup, in Hamburg, Germany in June 2006 after defeating Zanzibar 4–1 on penalties after a goalless draw. KTFF was set to host the VIVA World Cup during November 2006, however due to issues between the sides the KTFF chose to host its own tournament, the ELF Cup at that time. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus opened the tournament against Crimea, winning 5–0, beating their previous 'largest win' record of 6–2 against Sápmi. Soon after the opener, they beat the new record with a 10–0 victory against Tibet.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus defeated Crimea 3–1 in the ELF Cup finals to lift their second NF-Board cup in the same year. On the 9th of January, Northern Cyprus was chosen to participate in the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup

CONIFA (2013–Present)[]

Tournament history[]

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have taken part in five international tournaments and won four. KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup, organised to celebrate 50 years of the KTFF, involved national teams from Kosovo and the Sápmi region of northern Scandinavia, and was won by the hosts with maximum points. NF-Board invited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to take part in the first FIFI Wild Cup, held in Hamburg, Germany. This also featured teams from Greenland, Tibet, Gibraltar, Zanzibar, and a team representing "The Republic of St. Pauli", amateur players drawn from the St Pauli district of Hamburg. TRNC defeated Zanzibar on penalties in the final after a goalless draw to lift the trophy. KTFF hosted and won the ELF Cup beating in the final Crimea, in 2006. In 1999 hosted and won the . The only one tournament lost is the 1980 Islamic Games in Turkey, where they lost 2 matches on 4. the team will compete at the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup

FIFI Wild Cup record[]

Year Round Position Matches Wins Draws* Losses Goals Scored Goals Against Scorers
Germany 2006 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1 Oraloğlu (2 goals), Kolcu (1 goal), Çerkez (1 goal), Dylan Goal (o.g.), Morris Goal (o.g.)
Total 1/1 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1 Top scorer: Oraloğlu (2 goals)

ELF Cup record[]

Year Round Position Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals Scored Goals Against Scorers
Northern Cyprus 2006 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 28 2 Taşkıran (6 goals), Çakır (5 goals), Uçaner (3 goals), Çukurovalı (3 goals), Kolcu (2 goals), Selden (2 goals), Ulusoy (2 goals), Arıkbuka (1 goal), Kansu (1 goal), Keleşzade (1 goal), Sapsızoğlu (1 goal), Rizvan Abıltarov (o.g.)
Total 1/1 1st 5 5 0 0 28 2 Top scorer: Ertaç Taşkıran (6 goals)

Competitions record[]

Izmir Tournament[]

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
Tournament Izmir
1980 4th 4 1 0 3 3 9
Total Best: 4th 4 1 0 '3 3 9

Northern Cyprus tournament[]

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup
2005 1st 2 2 0 0 7 2
ELF Cup
2006 1st 5 5 0 0 28 2
Total Best: 1st 7 7 0 '0 35 4

World Cup record[]

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
FIFI Wild Cup
2006 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1
VIVA World Cup
Occitania 2006 Did not enter
Sápmi 2008
Padania 2009
Gozo 2010
Kurdistan Region 2012 2nd 4 2 0 2 19 4
ConIFA World Football Cup
Sápmi 2014 Did not enter
Abkhazia 2016 3rd 5 3 1 1 12 4
Ogaden 2018 2nd 6 3 3 0 17 6
Total Best: 1st 19 14 5 3 54 15

European Cup record[]

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
ConIFA European Football Cup
Székely Land 2015 Did not enter
Northern Cyprus 2017 2nd 5 3 1 1 14 5
Republic of Artsakh 2019 Did not enter
Nice 2021 Qualified
Total Best: 2nd 5 3 1 1 14 5
World Cup History
Year Round Score Result
VIVA World Cup
2012
Round 1  Northern Cyprus 15 – 0  Darfur Win
Round 1  Northern Cyprus 1 – 2  Provence Lose
Semi-Final  Northern Cyprus 2 – 0  Zanzibar Win
Final  Northern Cyprus 1 – 2  Kurdistan Region Lose
ConIFA World Football Cup
2016
Group C  Northern Cyprus 2 – 1  Padania Win
Group C  Northern Cyprus 7 – 0  Raetia Win
Quarter-Final  Northern Cyprus 1 – 1 (5–4 Pen)  United Koreans in Japan Win
Semi-Final  Northern Cyprus 0 – 2  Abkhazia Lose
Third Place  Northern Cyprus 2 – 0  Padania Win
ConIFA European Football Cup History
Year Round Score Result
2017
Group A  Northern Cyprus 1 – 0  Kárpátalja Win
Group A  Northern Cyprus 8 – 0  South Ossetia Win
Group A  Northern Cyprus 0 – 0  Abkhazia Draw
Semi-Final  Northern Cyprus 2 – 1  Székely Land Win
Final  Northern Cyprus 1 – 1 (2–3 Pen)  Padania Lose

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players have been called up for the in Nice, from 12 August to 23 August 2021.[5]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Hasan Piro (1983-02-10) 10 February 1983 (age 38) 20 0 Northern Cyprus
18 1GK Erdoğan Nay (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 24) 2 0 Northern Cyprus Baf Ülkü Yurdu
23 1GK Ozan Mercan (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 27) 2 0 Northern Cyprus Doğan Türk Birliği
4 2DF Serhan Önet (1981-08-26) 26 August 1981 (age 40) 25 1 Northern Cyprus Çetinkaya
25 2DF Çağrı Kıral (1989-02-11) 11 February 1989 (age 32) 20 0 Northern Cyprus
12 2DF Salih Say (1981-03-10) 10 March 1981 (age 40) 12 0 Northern Cyprus
13 2DF Hüseyin Sadıklar (1986-08-13) 13 August 1986 (age 35) 10 1 Northern Cyprus Yenicami
14 2DF Ahmet Sönmez (1987-06-30) 30 June 1987 (age 34) 10 0 Northern Cyprus Doğan Türk Birliği
17 2DF Aykut Esmeraslan (1992-03-28) 28 March 1992 (age 29) 5 0 Northern Cyprus
21 2DF Adil Uçar (1989-08-20) 20 August 1989 (age 32) 5 0 Northern Cyprus Mağusa Türk Gücü
3 2DF Necati Gench (1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 (age 22) 0 0 England
4 2DF Arif Uysal (1996-04-27) 27 April 1996 (age 25) 0 0 Northern Cyprus Mağusa Türk Gücü
6 3MF Fırat Ersalan (1986-05-11) 11 May 1986 (age 35) 10 0 Northern Cyprus
10 3MF Halil Turan (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 35) 15 10 Northern Cyprus Mağusa Türk Gücü
19 3MF Kenan Oshan (1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 (age 25) 12 3 Northern Cyprus Doğan Türk Birliği
8 3MF Thomas Richardson (2004-08-15) 15 August 2004 (age 17) 0 0 England
16 3MF Ünal Kaya (1991-06-08) 8 June 1991 (age 30) 8 1 Northern Cyprus Yenicami
11 3MF Mehmet Altun (1997-09-05) 5 September 1997 (age 24) 2 0 Northern Cyprus Yenicami
7 3MF Yasin Kurt (1988-03-14) 14 March 1988 (age 33) 0 0 Northern Cyprus Mağusa Türk Gücü
20 4FW Uğur Gök (1990-10-22) 22 October 1990 (age 31) 15 5 Northern Cyprus Küçük Kaymaklı
9 4FW Tansel Ekingen (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 (age 35) 10 2 Northern Cyprus Yenicami
11 4FW Ahmet Sivri (1999-07-06) 6 July 1999 (age 22) 2 1 Turkey Galatasaray
22 4FW Billy Mehmet (1985-01-03) 3 January 1985 (age 36) 5 4 Northern Cyprus

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Ercan Samancıoğlu (1994-07-30) 30 July 1994 (age 27) Northern Cyprus Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
GK Türkkan Delideniz (1984-12-28) 28 December 1984 (age 36) Northern Cyprus Mağusa Türk Gücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
DF Salih Güvensoy (1988-08-27) 27 August 1988 (age 33) Northern Cyprus Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
DF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 32) Northern Cyprus Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Aydın Aygın (1988-07-17) 17 July 1988 (age 33) Northern Cyprus Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ahmet Coşkun (1986-07-22) 22 July 1986 (age 35) Northern Cyprus Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF İbrahim Çıdamlı (1988-10-20) 20 October 1988 (age 33) Northern Cyprus Çetinkaya 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 32) Northern Cyprus Küçük Kaymaklı 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ali Özbahar (1989-08-28) 28 August 1989 (age 32) Northern Cyprus 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Hüseyin Adal (1987-06-29) 29 June 1987 (age 34) Northern Cyprus Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Mustafa Yaşınses (1988-08-16) 16 August 1988 (age 33) Turkey Hekimoğlu Doğanspor 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Kenan ÖzerINJ (1987-08-16) 16 August 1987 (age 34) Turkey Ankaragücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squadPRE
FW Kasım Tağman (1992-04-30) 30 April 1992 (age 29) Northern Cyprus 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
FW Ertaç Taşkıran (1982-08-06) 6 August 1982 (age 39) Northern Cyprus Ozanköy 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
FW Esin Sonay (1990-08-31) 31 August 1990 (age 31) Northern Cyprus Çetinkaya 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad.
  • RET = Retired from international football.
  • WD = Withdrew from the squad.
  • INJ = Withdrew due to an injury.

References[]

  1. ^ "KTFF Karması teknik sorumlusu Bülent Aytaç olarak belirlendi". KTFF. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  3. ^ http://www.playthegame.org/upload/billeder%202007%20konference/speakers/speakerdocuments/menarystevepaper.pdf
  4. ^ "Northern Cyprus - Conifa World football". www.conifa.org. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  5. ^ "2021 CONIFA European Football Cup - Wikipedia" (in Turkish). Cyprus Turkish Football Association. 3 May 2018.

External links[]

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