Azerbaijan men's national basketball team

Azerbaijan

FIBA ranking	105 13 (1 March 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA	1994
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	Azerbaijan Basketball Federation
Coach	Tahir Bakhshiyev
Nickname(s)	Milli komanda (The National Team)
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	None
EuroBasket
Appearances	None
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances	4
Medals	Gold: (2006, 2008)
Home Away
First international
Belarus 121–50 Azerbaijan  (Minsk, Belarus; 2 June 2001)
Biggest win
Somalia 29–106 Azerbaijan  (Medina, Saudi Arabia; 9 April 2005)
Biggest defeat
Belarus 121–50 Azerbaijan  (Minsk, Belarus; 2 June 2001)

The Azerbaijan men's national basketball team (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan milli basketbol komandası) is the national basketball team of Azerbaijan. The team is controlled by the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation.

Since becoming members of FIBA in 1994, Azerbaijan has mostly taken part in smaller competitions such as the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, winning it twice, in 2006 and 2008. The national team also won a title at the Islamic Solidarity Games in their lone appearance in 2005.

History

After Azerbaijan obtained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation was founded in 1993, and became members of FIBA in 1994. During Azerbaijan's early years, the national team did not appear in any international competition until they entered EuroBasket 2003 qualifiers.^[2]

Following Azerbaijan's failed qualification process for EuroBasket 2003, the national team entered their first international tournament at the 2004 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Azerbaijan would complete the event at a (2–2) record, for a fourth place finish.^[3] A year later, the national team entered the 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games, where Azerbaijan finished the competition winning the gold medal.^[4]

In 2006, Azerbaijan participated in the 2006 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, in which the team went (4–1), and reached the final to defeat Albania 66–57 to win the title.^[5] At the event in 2008, Azerbaijan repeated as champions, this time in an 78–80 victory over Moldova.^[6] After the tournament, Azerbaijan did not appear at an international event until EuroBasket 2013 qualifiers. However, Azerbaijan would eventually be eliminated from qualifying following a (4–4) record.^[7]

Ten years after Azerbaijan competed in their last international competition, the national team made its return at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Azerbaijan went on to close out the tournament in fourth place.^[8]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup World Cup Qualification Year Position Pld W L Pld W L 1950 to 1990 Part of Soviet Union Part of Soviet Union 1994 Not eligible Not eligible 1998 Did not enter Did not enter 2002 2006 2010 2014 Did not qualify Did not qualify 2019 Did not enter Did not enter 2023 2027 To be determined To be determined Total 0/7 Championship for Small Countries FIBA European Championship for Small Countries Year Position Pld W L 2004 4th 4 2 2 2006 5 4 1 2008 5 4 1 2022 4th 5 1 4 Total 19 11 8 Islamic Solidarity Games Islamic Solidarity Games Year Position Pld W L 2005 9 7 2 Total 9 7 2

EuroBasket EuroBasket Qualification Year Position Pld W L Pld W L 1947 to 1991 Part of Soviet Union Part of Soviet Union 1993 Not a FIBA Europe member Not a FIBA Europe member 1995 Not eligible Not eligible 1997 Did not enter Did not enter 1999 2001 2003 Did not qualify 6 0 6 2005 Did not enter Did not enter 2007 2009 2011 2013 Did not qualify 8 4 4 2015 Did not enter Did not enter 2017 2022 2025 Total 0/13 14 4 10

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2024

Switzerland  v  Azerbaijan

22 February 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Switzerland	72–53	Azerbaijan	Fribourg, Switzerland
19:00 (UTC+1)	Scoring by quarter: 10–20, 19–8, 21–15, 22–10
	Pts: Fofana 19 Rebs: Nzege 10 Asts: Fofana, Zinn 5	Boxscore	Pts: LeDay 22 Rebs: Donat, LeDay 6 Asts: Mammadov 4	Arena: Salle Saint-Lèonard Attendance: 1,120 Referees: Stylianos Simeonidis (GRE), Joaquin García (ESP), Alessandro Perciavalle (ITA)

Azerbaijan  v  Kosovo

25 February 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Azerbaijan	87–77	Kosovo	Baku, Azerbaijan
14:00 (UTC+4)	Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 24–25, 16–16, 28–17
	Pts: Aydın 27 Rebs: Hall 14 Asts: Shirzadov 6	Boxscore	Pts: Berisha 20 Rebs: Kapiti 6 Asts: Mala 6	Arena: Sarkhadchi Sport Center Referees: Andžej Urbanovič (LTU), Ritvars Helmšteins (LAT), Viktor Nagy (HUN)

Ireland  v  Azerbaijan

21 November 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Ireland	vs.	Azerbaijan	Ireland
		Boxscore

Azerbaijan  v   Switzerland

24 November 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Azerbaijan	vs.	Switzerland	Azerbaijan
		Boxscore

2025

Kosovo  v  Azerbaijan

20 February 2025 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Kosovo	vs.	Azerbaijan	Kosovo
		Boxscore

Azerbaijan  v  Ireland

23 February 2025 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Azerbaijan	vs.	Ireland	Azerbaijan
		Boxscore

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Pre-Qualifiers matches on 22 and 25 February 2024 against Switzerland and Kosovo.^[9]

Azerbaijan men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G 6 Zaur Pashayev 40 – (1983-08-31)31 August 1983 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Jalilabad F/C 7 Orhan Aydın 34 – (1989-10-01)1 October 1989 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Yalovaspor G/F 8 Ulaş Turgut 21 – (2003-01-31)31 January 2003 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Neftçi SG 10 Elshad Shirzadov 25 – (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) NTD F/C 11 Zach LeDay 29 – (1994-05-30)30 May 1994 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Partizan C 14 Amil Hamzayev 33 – (1990-06-25)25 June 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Xezri PG 23 Kamran Mammadov 23 – (2000-05-03)3 May 2000 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Neftçi C 31 Ercan Donat 24 – (2000-02-01)1 February 2000 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Etimesgut C 35 Saadettin Donat 23 – (2001-01-07)7 January 2001 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Ormanspor F 41 Endar Poladkhanli 25 – (1998-10-12)12 October 1998 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Sabah C 45 Donta Hall 26 – (1997-08-07)7 August 1997 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Monaco PF 66 Akbar Mammadov 24 – (1999-03-06)6 March 1999 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) NTD PG 77 Shirzad Shirzadov 23 – (2000-05-30)30 May 2000 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Sabah	Head coach Tahir Bakhshiyev Assistant coach(es) Alberto Blanco Anar Sariyev Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 22 February 2024

Depth chart

Head coach position

• Rimas Kurtinaitis – (2002–2006)
• Elkhan Aliyev – (2008–2016)
• Samit Nuruzade – (2016–2018)
• Aleksandar Trifunović – (2022)
• Tahir Bakhshiyev – (2024–present)

Past rosters

2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 4th among 6 teams^[10]

Azerbaijan men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F/C 8 Endar Poladkhanli 23 – (1998-10-12)12 October 1998 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Zirve Astara F/C 9 Akbar Mammadov 23 – (1999-03-06)6 March 1999 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Zirve Astara PF 10 Orhan Aydın 32 – (1989-10-01)1 October 1989 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Yalovaspor G 15 Elshad Shirzadov 23 – (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Unattached G/F 17 Ulaş Turgut 19 – (2003-01-31)31 January 2003 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) İstanbul PG 18 Beray Taşer 19 – (2003-01-23)23 January 2003 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Kağıtspor PG 20 Jordan Davis 25 – (1997-06-06)6 June 1997 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Murcia PG 24 Shirzad Shirzadov 22 – (2000-05-30)30 May 2000 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Khirdalan F 25 Anar Hajiyev 34 – (1988-06-02)2 June 1988 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Zirve Astara G 27 Zaur Pashayev 38 – (1983-08-31)31 August 1983 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Zirve Astara G 28 Jabrayil Akbarov 20 – (2002-02-09)9 February 2002 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Khirdalan F/C 44 Amil Hamzayev 32 – (1990-06-25)25 June 1990 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Gence	Head coach Aleksandar Trifunović Assistant coach(es) Aurimas Jasilionis Tahir Bakhshiyev Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 29 June 2022

See also

• Sport in Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan women's national basketball team
• Azerbaijan men's national under-20 basketball team
• Azerbaijan men's national under-18 basketball team
• Azerbaijan men's national under-16 basketball team

References

External links

• Official website (in Azerbaijani and English)
• Azerbaijan FIBA profile
• Azerbaijan National Team – Men at Eurobasket.com

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