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
AssociationKıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu
ConfederationConIFA
NF-Board
Head coachBülent Aytaç[1]
Most capsSerkan Önet (13)
Top scorerYasin Kansu (7)
Home stadiumNicosia Atatürk Stadium
First colours
Second colours
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
Appearances2 (first in 2016)
Best result2nd (2018)

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.[2][3]

After the foundation of TRNC (1983–2004)

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)

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

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 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
Year Round Position Matches Wins Draws* Losses Goals Scored Goals Against Scorers
2006Champions1st431061Oraloğlu (2 goals), Kolcu (1 goal), Çerkez (1 goal), Dylan  (o.g.), Morris  (o.g.)
Total1/11st431061Top scorer: Oraloğlu (2 goals)

ELF Cup record
Year Round Position Matches Wins Draws Losses Goals Scored Goals Against Scorers
2006Champions1st5500282Taşkıran (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.)
Total1/11st5500282Top scorer: Ertaç Taşkıran (6 goals)

Competitions record

Northern Cyprus tournament
Year Position GP W D L GS GA
KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup
20051st220072
ELF Cup
20061st5500282
TotalBest: 1st770'0354

World Cup record
Year Position GP W D L GS GA
FIFI Wild Cup
20061st431061
VIVA World Cup
2006Did not enter
2008
2009
2010
20122nd4202194
ConIFA World Football Cup
2014Did not enter
20163rd5311124
20182nd6330176
TotalBest: 1st1914535415

European Cup record
Year Position GP W D L GS GA
ConIFA European Football Cup
2015Did not enter
20172nd5311145
2019Did not enter
TotalBest: 2nd5311145
World Cup History
YearRoundScoreResult
VIVA World Cup
2012
Round 1 Northern Cyprus 15 – 0  DarfurWin
Round 1 Northern Cyprus 1 – 2  ProvenceLose
Semi-Final Northern Cyprus 2 – 0  ZanzibarWin
Final Northern Cyprus 1 – 2  Kurdistan RegionLose
ConIFA World Football Cup
2016
Group C Northern Cyprus 2 – 1  PadaniaWin
Group C Northern Cyprus 7 – 0  RaetiaWin
Quarter-Final Northern Cyprus 1 – 1 (5–4 Pen)  United Koreans in JapanWin
Semi-Final Northern Cyprus 0 – 2  AbkhaziaLose
Third Place Northern Cyprus 2 – 0  PadaniaWin
ConIFA European Football Cup History
YearRoundScoreResult
2017
Group A Northern Cyprus 1 – 0  KárpátaljaWin
Group A Northern Cyprus 8 – 0  South OssetiaWin
Group A Northern Cyprus 0 – 0  AbkhaziaDraw
Semi-Final Northern Cyprus 2 – 1  Székely LandWin
Final Northern Cyprus 1 – 1 (2–3 Pen)  PadaniaLose

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup in London, from 30 May to 10 June 2018.[4]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Hasan Piro (1983-02-10) 10 February 1983 20 0 Alsancak Yeşilova
18 1GK Erdoğan Nay (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 2 0 Baf Ülkü Yurdu
23 1GK Ozan Mercan (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 2 0 Doğan Türk Birliği
4 2DF Serhan Önet (1981-08-26) 26 August 1981 25 1 Çetinkaya
8 2DF Çağrı Kıral (1989-02-11) 11 February 1989 20 0 Lefke
12 2DF Salih Say (1981-03-10) 10 March 1981 12 0 Cihangir
13 2DF Hüseyin Sadıklar (1986-08-13) 13 August 1986 10 1 Yenicami
14 2DF Ahmet Sönmez (1987-06-30) 30 June 1987 10 0 Doğan Türk Birliği
17 2DF Aykut Esmeraslan (1992-03-28) 28 March 1992 5 0 Lefke
21 2DF Adil Uçar (1989-08-20) 20 August 1989 5 0 Mağusa Türk Gücü
3 2DF Necati Gench (1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 0 0 London Yeni Boğaziçi
4 2DF Arif Uysal (1996-04-27) 27 April 1996 0 0 Mağusa Türk Gücü
6 3MF Fırat Ersalan (1986-05-11) 11 May 1986 10 0 Cihangir
10 3MF Halil Turan (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 15 10 Mağusa Türk Gücü
19 3MF Kenan Oshan (1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 12 3 Doğan Türk Birliği
15 3MF Mehmet Erol (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 10 0 Binatlı
16 3MF Ünal Kaya (1991-06-08) 8 June 1991 8 1 Yenicami
11 3MF Mehmet Altun (1997-09-05) 5 September 1997 2 0 Yenicami
7 3MF Yasin Kurt (1988-03-14) 14 March 1988 0 0 Mağusa Türk Gücü
20 4FW Uğur Gök (1990-10-22) 22 October 1990 15 5 Küçük Kaymaklı
9 4FW Tansel Ekingen (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 10 2 Yenicami
11 4FW Ahmet Sivri (1999-07-06) 6 July 1999 2 1 Galatasaray
22 4FW Billy Mehmet (1985-01-03) 3 January 1985 0 0 Alsancak Yeşilova

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 Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
GK Türkkan Delideniz (1984-12-28) 28 December 1984 Mağusa Türk Gücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
DF Salih Güvensoy (1988-08-27) 27 August 1988 Yenicami 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
DF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Aydın Aygın (1988-07-17) 17 July 1988 Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ahmet Coşkun (1986-07-22) 22 July 1986 Doğan Türk Birliği 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF İbrahim Çıdamlı (1988-10-20) 20 October 1988 Çetinkaya 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Mehmet Kaygısız (1989-08-09) 9 August 1989 Küçük Kaymaklı 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
MF Ali Özbahar (1989-08-28) 28 August 1989 Yalova 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Hüseyin Adal (1987-06-29) 29 June 1987 Küçük Kaymaklı 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Mustafa Yaşınses (1988-08-16) 16 August 1988 Hekimoğlu Doğanspor 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
MF Kenan ÖzerINJ (1987-08-16) 16 August 1987 Ankaragücü 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squadPRE
FW Kasım Tağman (1992-04-30) 30 April 1992 Lefke 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup squadPRE
FW Ertaç Taşkıran (1982-08-06) 6 August 1982 Ozanköy 2017 ConIFA European Football Cup squad
FW Esin Sonay (1990-08-31) 31 August 1990 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. http://www.playthegame.org/upload/billeder%202007%20konference/speakers/speakerdocuments/menarystevepaper.pdf
  3. "Northern Cyprus - Conifa World football". www.conifa.org. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  4. "Paddy Power CONIFA Dünya Kupası 2018 KKTC Milli Takım Kafilesi Açıklandı" (in Turkish). Cyprus Turkish Football Association. 3 May 2018.
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