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.
 | |||
| Association | Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | CONIFA NF-Board | ||
| Head coach | Caner Oshan[1] | ||
| Most caps | Serkan Önet (25) | ||
| Top scorer | Halil Turan (18) | ||
| Home stadium | Nicosia Atatürk Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | NCY (*Non-FIFA member) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey (1962) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 Northern Cyprus 15–0 Darfur  (Arbil, Iraq; 4 June 2012) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Turkish Cypriots 0–5 Turkey (1962) Turkey 5–0 Turkish Cypriots (İzmir, Turkey; 28 September 1980) | |||
| CONIFA World Football Cup | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2016) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2018) | ||
| CONIFA European Football Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2017) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (2017) | ||
| Website | ktff.org | ||
Due to an ongoing sports embargo against Northern Cyprus, the team cannot play international matches with FIFA members.
History
editOrigins (1955–1962)
editThe 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)
editDespite 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)
editAfter 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)
editKTFF 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)
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2022) |
Tournament history
editTurkish 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) |
- Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
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
editIslamic Games
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
editCurrent squad
editThe 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 | GK | Hasan Piro | 2 October 1983 (aged 37) | 20 | 0 | Alsancak Yeşilova
|
| 18 | GK | Erdoğan Nay | 16 July 1997 (aged 24) | 2 | 0 | Baf Ülkü Yurdu
|
| 23 | GK | Ozan Mercan | 22 April 1994 (aged 27) | 2 | 0 | Doğan Türk Birliği
|
| 2 | DF | Serhan Önet | 26 August 1981 (aged 39) | 25 | 1 | Çetinkaya
|
| 5 | DF | Çağrı Kıral | 11 February 1989 | 20 | 0 | Lefke
|
| 12 | DF | Salih Say | 10 March 1981 | 12 | 0 | Cihangir
|
| 13 | DF | Hüseyin Sadıklar | 13 August 1986 | 10 | 1 | Yenicami
|
| 14 | DF | Ahmet Sönmez | 30 June 1987 | 10 | 0 | Doğan Türk Birliği
|
| 17 | DF | Aykut Esmeraslan | 28 March 1992 | 5 | 0 | Lefke
|
| 21 | DF | Adil Uçar | 20 August 1989 | 5 | 0 | Mağusa Türk Gücü
|
| 3 | DF | Necati Gench | 21 November 1999 | 0 | 0 |  London Yeni Boğaziçi
|
| 4 | DF | Arif Uysal | 27 April 1996 | 0 | 0 | Mağusa Türk Gücü
|
| 6 | MF | Fırat Ersalan | 11 May 1986 | 10 | 0 | Cihangir
|
| 10 | MF | Halil Turan | 28 November 1986 | 15 | 10 | Mağusa Türk Gücü
|
| 19 | MF | Kenan Oshan | 27 December 1995 | 12 | 3 | Doğan Türk Birliği
|
| 8 | MF | Thomas Richardson | 15 August 2004 | 6 | 4 | Colonel Getafe Reserves
|
| 16 | MF | Ünal Kaya | 8 June 1991 | 8 | 1 | Yenicami
|
| 11 | MF | Mehmet Altun | 5 September 1997 | 2 | 0 | Yenicami
|
| 7 | MF | Yasin Kurt | 14 March 1988 | 0 | 0 | Mağusa Türk Gücü
|
| 20 | FW | Uğur Gök | 22 October 1990 | 15 | 5 | Küçük Kaymaklı
|
| 9 | FW | Tansel Ekingen | 29 September 1986 | 10 | 2 | Yenicami
|
| 15 | FW | Ahmet Sivri | 6 July 1999 | 2 | 1 | Galatasaray
|
| 22 | FW | Billy Mehmet | 3 January 1984 | 5 | 4 | Alsancak Yeşilova
|
Recent call-ups
editThe following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.
- Notes
- PRE = Preliminary squad.
- RET = Retired from international football.
- WD = Withdrew from the squad.
- INJ = Withdrew due to an injury.
Honours
editNon-FIFA competitions
edit- FIFI Wild Cup
Champions (1): 2006
- Viva World Cup
Runners-up (1): 2012
- CONIFA World Football Cup
- CONIFA European Football Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2017
- ELF Cup
- Champions (1): 2006
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Oshan teknik ekibini belirledi Kaynak: Oshan teknik ekibini belirledi". Sporyeni. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ http://www.playthegame.org/upload/billeder%202007%20konference/speakers/speakerdocuments/menarystevepaper.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Northern Cyprus – Conifa World football". www.conifa.org. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ^ "2021 CONIFA European Football Cup – Wikipedia" (in Turkish). Cyprus Turkish Football Association. 3 May 2018.
External links
edit- (in Turkish) HomePage
- (in English) All-time results from RSSSF
- (in English) "Footballers Reveal ‘Strip’ Poster to Highlight their 50 Year Ban from International Football"
- (in English) Details of FIFI Wild Cup final
- (in English) Article about the FIFI Wild Cup final
- (in English) 2006 FIFI Wild Cup Pictures of TRNC Team
- (in English, Greek, and Turkish) Cyprus Soccer E-Group