Abkhazia national football team

The Abkhazia national football team is the team representing the non-recognised state of Abkhazia. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship.

Abkhazia
AssociationFootball Federation of Abkhazia
ConfederationConIFA
Head coachBeslan Gubliya
Top scorerRuslan Shoniya (8)
Home stadiumRepublican Stadium, Sukhumi
FIFA codeABK
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Abkhazia 1–1 Nagorno-Karabakh 
(Sukhumi, Abkhazia; 25 September 2012)
Biggest win
 Abkhazia 9–0 Chagos Islands 
(Sukhumi, Abkhazia; 29 May 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Nagorno-Karabakh 3–0 Abkhazia 
(Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh; 21 October 2012)
CONIFA World Football Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2014)
Best resultChampions, 2016
CONIFA European Football Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2015)
Best result3rd place, 2019

They competed at the first ConIFA World Football Cup in 2014, finishing 8th overall,[1] and they hosted and won the second edition in 2016.

History edit

After a revival in 2012, Abkhazia competed internationally under the umbrella of the CONIFA. The team made their debut in the CONIFA World Cup in 2014 and won the edition that they hosted in 2016.

In 2019, Abkhazia made their first appearance ever in the CONIFA European Cup, where they finished third.

In 2023, Abkhazia was drawn in the 2024 CONIFA World Cup Qualification Group D with Artskah. The match was originally to be played on the 10th of July. However, the match was postponed.

International record edit

At CONIFA World Football Cup edit

Year Position GP W D L GF GA
  2014 8th 5 1 3 1 6 6
  2016 1st 5 4 1 0 15 1
  2018 9th 6 4 1 1 15 4
  2024 To be Confirmed
Total 16 9 5 2 36 11

At CONIFA European Football Cup edit

Year Position GP W D L GF GA
  2015 did not enter
  2017 4th 5 1 3 1 5 6
  2019 3rd 5 2 3 0 6 3
  2021 Cancelled
Total 10 3 6 1 11 9

Results and fixtures edit

2020 edit

25 September 2020 (2020-09-25) Friendly Abkhazia   0–0   Donetsk PR Sukhumi, Abkhazia
--:-- UTC+4 Report Stadium: Dinamo Stadium
Note: Match Abandoned at half-time due to floodlight failure.

2021 edit

11 July 2021 (2021-07-11) Friendly Abkhazia   1–0   PFC Sochi Sukhumi, Abkhazia
--:-- UTC+4 Kvitsinia   54' Stadium: Dinamo Stadium
Attendance: 2,000

2022 edit

16 November 2022 (2022-11-16) Friendly Abkhazia   1–1   Adygea Sukhumi, Abkhazia
--:-- UTC+4 Kvitsinia   42' Report Delok   45' Stadium: Dinamo Stadium
23 November 2022 (2022-11-23) Friendly Abkhazia   2–4   Kabardino-Balkaria Sukhumi, Abkhazia
17:00 UTC+4
  • Bazhev   32'
  • Bekboev B   51'
  • Khutov   65'
  • Abazhev   80'
Stadium: Dinamo Stadium

Current squad edit

The following 23 players were called up to the squad for the 2019 CONIFA European Football Cup.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ilia Sherba (1987-08-25) 25 August 1987 (age 36) 0 0   Gagra
2 2DF Georgi Zhanaa (1995-01-28) 28 January 1995 (age 29) 15 0   Nart Sukhum
3 2DF Astamur Tsishba (1988-02-23) 23 February 1988 (age 36) 13 1   Gagra
4 3MF Danil Chirikba (1998-05-12) 12 May 1998 (age 25) 0 0   New Athos
5 3MF Tarash Khagba (1991-01-14) 14 January 1991 (age 33) 18 3   Dinamo Sukhum
6 3MF Akaki Zvanba (1992-10-28) 28 October 1992 (age 31) 1 0   New Athos
7 3MF Alan Khugaev (1991-08-31) 31 August 1991 (age 32) 13 0   Spartak Vladikavkaz
8 3MF Shabat Logua (1995-03-22) 22 March 1995 (age 29) 18 3   OFK Bačka
9 2DF Lev Tarba (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Nart Sukhum
10 4FW Dmitri Maskayev (1987-12-27) 27 December 1987 (age 36) 4 1   Torpedo Moscow
11 4FW Ramin Bartsits (1990-01-26) 26 January 1990 (age 34) 0 0   Gagra
12 1GK Inal Katsuba (1995-09-21) 21 September 1995 (age 28) 8 0   Nart Sukhum
13 3MF Roman Zikrach (1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 26) 0 0   FC Kairat
14 3MF Viktor Pimpiia (1998-12-15) 15 December 1998 (age 25) 4 1   Ritsa
15 4FW Danilo Ardzinba (1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 24) 0 0   FC Strogino Moscow
16 3MF Daur Chanba (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 23) 0 0   OFK Bačka
17 2DF Lev Baburin (1997-07-11) 11 July 1997 (age 26) 0 0   Baltica-M
18 3MF Giga Benidze (1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 25) 0 0   Dinamo Sukhum
19 3MF Gudisa Smyr (2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 24) 0 0   FC Druzhba Maykop
20 3MF Timur Agrba (1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Nart Sukhum

Top goalscorers edit

Only matches at CONIFA tournaments are counted.

# Player Goals
1 Ruslan Shoniya 8
2 Dmitri Kortava 6
3 Shabat Logua 5
4 Ruslan Akhveldiani 4
5 Vladimir Argun 3
Dmitri Maskayev 3
Astamur Tarba 3
Amal Vardania 3

Honours edit

ConIFA World Football Cup
CONIFA European Football Cup

Managers edit

Manager Period Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
  Jemal Gubaz 2007–2008 2 0 2 0 000.0
  Juma Kvaratskhelia 2012–2017 28 12 12 4 042.9
  Beslan Ajinjal 2017–2019 12 7 4 1 058.3
  Beslan Gubliya 2020– 4 1 2 1 025.0
Totals 46 20 20 6 43.47

See also edit

References edit