Wikipedia

Northern Cyprus national football team

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.

Northern Cyprus
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationCyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA)
ConfederationCONIFA
NF-Board
Head coachCaner Oshan[1]
Most capsSerkan Önet (25)
Top scorerHalil Turan (18)
Home stadiumNicosia Atatürk Stadium
FIFA codeNCY (*Non-FIFA member)
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 resultRunners-up (2018)
CONIFA European Football Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2017)
Best resultRunners-up (2017)
Websitektff.org

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

History edit

Origins (1955–1962) edit

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) edit

Despite not being considered an independent country, Northern Cyprus played in the 1980 Islamic Games football tournament, which was held in İzmir, 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) edit

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

NF-Board (2004–2013) edit

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) edit

Tournament history edit

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 Sport Games Football Association. 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 edit

Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Scorers
  2006 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1 Oraloğlu (2 goals), Kolcu (1 goal), Çerkez (1 goal), Dylan   (o.g.), Morris   (o.g.)
Total 1/1 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1 Top scorer: Oraloğlu (2 goals)

ELF Cup record edit

Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Scorers
  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 edit

See also: Northern Cyprus national football team results

İzmir Tournament edit

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

Northern Cyprus tournament edit

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 edit

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
FIFI Wild Cup
FC St. Pauli 2006 1st 4 3 1 0 6 1
VIVA World Cup
  2006 did not enter
  2008
  2009
  2010
  2012 2nd 4 2 0 2 19 4
ConIFA World Football Cup
  2014 did not enter
  2016 3rd 5 3 1 1 12 4
  2018 2nd 6 3 3 0 17 6
  2020 did not enter
Total Best: 1st 19 14 5 3 54 15

European Cup record edit

Year Position GP W D L GS GA
ConIFA European Football Cup
  2015 did not enter
  2017 2nd 5 3 1 1 14 5
  2019 did not enter
  2021 cancelled
  2023
Total Best: 2nd 5 3 1 1 14 5

Players edit

Current squad edit

The following players have been called up for the 2021 ConIFA European Football Cup 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 41) 20 0   Alsancak Yeşilova
18 1GK Erdoğan Nay (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 26) 2 0   Baf Ülkü Yurdu
23 1GK Ozan Mercan (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 29) 2 0   Doğan Türk Birliği
2 2DF Serhan Önet (1981-08-26) 26 August 1981 (age 42) 25 1   Çetinkaya
5 2DF Çağrı Kıral (1989-02-11) 11 February 1989 (age 35) 20 0   Lefke
12 2DF Salih Say (1981-03-10) 10 March 1981 (age 43) 12 0   Cihangir
13 2DF Hüseyin Sadıklar (1986-08-13) 13 August 1986 (age 37) 10 1   Yenicami
14 2DF Ahmet Sönmez (1987-06-30) 30 June 1987 (age 36) 10 0   Doğan Türk Birliği
17 2DF Aykut Esmeraslan (1992-03-28) 28 March 1992 (age 32) 5 0   Lefke
21 2DF Adil Uçar (1989-08-20) 20 August 1989 (age 34) 5 0   Mağusa Türk Gücü
3 2DF Necati Gench (1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 (age 24) 0 0   London Yeni Boğaziçi
4 2DF Arif Uysal (1996-04-27) 27 April 1996 (age 27) 0 0   Mağusa Türk Gücü
6 3MF Fırat Ersalan (1986-05-11) 11 May 1986 (age 37) 10 0   Cihangir
10 3MF Halil Turan (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 37) 15 10   Mağusa Türk Gücü
19 3MF Kenan Oshan (1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 (age 28) 12 3   Doğan Türk Birliği
8 3MF Thomas Richardson (2004-08-15) 15 August 2004 (age 19) 6 4   Colonel Getafe Reserves
16 3MF Ünal Kaya (1991-06-08) 8 June 1991 (age 32) 8 1   Yenicami
11 3MF Mehmet Altun (1997-09-05) 5 September 1997 (age 26) 2 0   Yenicami
7 3MF Yasin Kurt (1988-03-14) 14 March 1988 (age 36) 0 0   Mağusa Türk Gücü
20 4FW Uğur Gök (1990-10-22) 22 October 1990 (age 33) 15 5   Küçük Kaymaklı
9 4FW Tansel Ekingen (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 (age 37) 10 2   Yenicami
15 4FW Ahmet Sivri (1999-07-06) 6 July 1999 (age 24) 2 1   Galatasaray
22 4FW Billy Mehmet (1984-01-03) 3 January 1984 (age 40) 5 4   Alsancak Yeşilova

Recent call-ups edit

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 29)   Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
GK Türkkan Delideniz (1984-12-28) 28 December 1984 (age 39)   Mağusa Türk Gücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
DF Salih Güvensoy (1988-08-27) 27 August 1988 (age 35)   Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
DF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 34)   Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Aydın Aygın (1988-07-17) 17 July 1988 (age 35)   Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ahmet Coşkun (1986-07-22) 22 July 1986 (age 37)   Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF İbrahim Çıdamlı (1988-10-20) 20 October 1988 (age 35)   Çetinkaya 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 (age 34)   Küçük Kaymaklı 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ali Özbahar (1989-08-28) 28 August 1989 (age 34)   Yalova 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Hüseyin Adal (1987-06-29) 29 June 1987 (age 36)   Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Mustafa Yaşınses (1988-08-16) 16 August 1988 (age 35)   Hekimoğlu Doğanspor 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Kenan ÖzerINJ (1987-08-16) 16 August 1987 (age 36)   Ankaragücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squadPRE
FW Kasım Tağman (1992-04-30) 30 April 1992 (age 31)   Lefke 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
FW Ertaç Taşkıran (1982-08-06) 6 August 1982 (age 41)   Ozanköy 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
FW Esin Sonay (1990-08-31) 31 August 1990 (age 33)   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.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Oshan teknik ekibini belirledi Kaynak: Oshan teknik ekibini belirledi". Sporyeni. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ^ http://www.playthegame.org/upload/billeder%202007%20konference/speakers/speakerdocuments/menarystevepaper.pdf [bare URL 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 edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northern_Cyprus_national_football_team&oldid=1215652269"