Abkhazia national football team

On the eastern coast of Black Sea where the Caucasus mountains meet is Abkhazia. It is sandwiched between Russia and Georgia. It is currently an independent state which declared sovereignty in 1990 and is only recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and some other unrecognized nations. They were first registered in 2008 by Russia. However, Georgia still declares that Abkhazia is part of Georgia.^[1][2]

Football is a major sport in Abkhazia and FC Dinamo Sukhumi, a former Soviet second division league team is in the forefront. All Abkhaz football teams closed shop after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.^[2] The first Abkhazian Premier League was founded in 1994 with 15 teams and Dynamo Sukhumi won the inaugural title. Another club, Nart Sukhumi, started in 1997, is dominating in the recent times in the domestic circuit with 12 league titles and 9 domestic cups. Former Russian lower league player Juma Kvaratskhelia was heading the Football Federation of Abkhazia in 2012. Later, Ruslan Adzhindzhal, who was the president, resigned in January 2017 and Kvaratskhelia was re elected in 2017.^[3] He also served as chief coach from 2012 to 2017.^[2]

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 2018, they won a match against Tibet 3-0 in the World CONIFA Championship at London.^[4] But later, the defending champions went out at the first stage. They drew 2-2 with Northern Cyprus in their final group game and made an exit after the group stage itself.^[5]

In 2019, Abkhazia made their first appearance ever in the CONIFA European Cup, where they finished third.^[6]

In 2023, Abkhazia was drawn in the 2024 CONIFA World Cup Qualification Group D with Artskah.^[7] The match was originally to be played on the 10th of July. However, the match was cancelled.

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 38)	0	0	Gagra
2	2DF	Georgi Zhanaa	(1995-01-28) 28 January 1995 (age 30)	15	0	Nart Sukhum
3	2DF	Astamur Tsishba	(1988-02-23) 23 February 1988 (age 37)	13	1	Gagra
4	3MF	Danil Chirikba	(1998-05-12) 12 May 1998 (age 27)	0	0	New Athos
5	3MF	Tarash Khagba	(1991-01-14) 14 January 1991 (age 35)	18	3	Dinamo Sukhum
6	3MF	Akaki Zvanba	(1992-10-28) 28 October 1992 (age 33)	1	0	New Athos
7	3MF	Alan Khugaev	(1991-08-31) 31 August 1991 (age 34)	13	0	Spartak Vladikavkaz
8	3MF	Shabat Logua	(1995-03-22) 22 March 1995 (age 30)	18	3	OFK Bačka
9	2DF	Lev Tarba	(1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 26)	0	0	Nart Sukhum
10	4FW	Dmitri Maskayev	(1987-12-27) 27 December 1987 (age 38)	4	1	Torpedo Moscow
11	4FW	Ramin Bartsits	(1990-01-26) 26 January 1990 (age 35)	0	0	Gagra
12	1GK	Inal Katsuba	(1995-09-21) 21 September 1995 (age 30)	8	0	Nart Sukhum
13	3MF	Roman Zikrach	(1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 28)	0	0	FC Kairat
14	3MF	Viktor Pimpiia	(1998-12-15) 15 December 1998 (age 27)	4	1	Ritsa
15	4FW	Danilo Ardzinba	(1999-05-27) 27 May 1999 (age 26)	0	0	FC Strogino Moscow
16	3MF	Daur Chanba	(2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 25)	0	0	OFK Bačka
17	2DF	Lev Baburin	(1997-07-11) 11 July 1997 (age 28)	0	0	Baltica-M
18	3MF	Giga Benidze	(1998-09-18) 18 September 1998 (age 27)	0	0	Dinamo Sukhum
19	3MF	Gudisa Smyr	(2000-03-06) 6 March 2000 (age 25)	0	0	FC Druzhba Maykop
20	3MF	Timur Agrba	(1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 26)	0	0	Nart Sukhum

Only matches at CONIFA tournaments are counted.