Image: CONIFA/Jana Cavojska
The road to glory in the CONIFA Sportsbet.io European Football Cup 2019 has been confirmed for this year’s tournament in Artsakh, with eight member countries battling it out for the silverware on offer in June 2019.
The competition, which runs from 1st – 9th June, follows on from 2018’s hugely successful CONIFA World Football Cup held in London, and brings together teams from across Europe eager to be this year’s winners.
Per-Anders Blind, CONIFA President, said: “We can’t wait to get started with this year’s tournament. The World Football Cup in 2018 was a hugely positive event for CONIFA and our member countries, and we are looking forward to welcoming the teams to Artsakh and to working with our hosts to run another successful week of football.”
Joe McCallum, Director of Sportsbook from tournament sponsors Sportsbet.io, said: “The tournament is a true celebration of football and we at Sportsbet.io simply love the beautiful game so are thrilled to be able to be a part of this June’s action.
“It’s clear all the teams have been hard at work preparing for the tournament and we’re excited to see who’ll be lifting the cup at the final on the 9th.”
The tournament will be played across four venues in Artsakh, with the final being held on Stepanakert on the evening of the 9th.
And the hosts Artsakh will get their efforts underway with a match against Sapmi on June 2nd, launching a busy schedule of fixtures.
Narine Aghabalyan, Minister of Education, Science and Sport for the Republic of Artsakh added: “CONIFA does everything to ensure everyone can feel the joy of playing football.
“We are hopeful that the championship will contribute to the development of football and the strengthening of peace in Artsakh.
“As hosts, we have prepared an exciting event programme so the championship becomes a true feast for all participants and guests.
“The doors of Artsakh are open to all who wish to come and enjoy football. Let the ball draw a bridge of friendship between us!”
This year’s CONIFA Sportsbet.io European Football Cup is the third to have taken place so far, following tournaments in Hungary in 2015 and Northern Cyprus two years later.
Sascha Düerkop, General Secretary for CONIFA, said: “It promises to be a fantastic week of football and we are excited about what Artsakh has to offer us as a host venue in 2019.
“There look to be some very competitive fixtures lined up in the group stages and we are looking forward to see who will make it through to contest the final on 9th June.”
Of the 8 teams competing in this year’s CONIFA Sportsbet.io European Football Cup 2019, twice European champions Padania will be hoping to add to their tally of silverware in Artsakh, while 2016 World Football Cup champions Abkhazia will be seeking their first win in this tournament.
Alberto Rischio, European President of CONIFA, said: “Our European members performed very well at last year’s World Football Cup, so I am certain that this year’s tournament will be of a very high standard.
“We saw some great crowds in London and we’re expecting that this year’s tournament will be well supported by the public of Artsakh and fans from further afield.”
Following an opening ceremony in Stepanakert on June 1st, the full fixture schedule for the CONIFA Sportsbet.io European Football Cup is as follows:-
| Group A | Group B |
| Artsakh | Padania |
| Sapmi | Szekely Land |
| Abkhazia | Western Armenia |
| Chameria | South Ossetia |
2nd June
16:00 Abkhazia v Chameria (Askeran)
18:00 Padania v Szekely Land (Martakert)
18:00 Western Armenia v South Ossetia (Martuni)
18:30 Artsakh v Sapmi (Stepanakert)
3rd June
16:00 Szekely Land v Western Armenia (Askeran)
18:00 Sapmi v Abkhazia (Martakert)
18:00 Chameria v Artsakh (Martuni)
18:30 South Ossetia v Padania (Stepanakert)
4th June
16:00 South Ossetia v Szekely Land (Askeran)
18:00 Artsakh v Abkhazia (Martuni)
18:00 Chameria v Sapmi (Martakert)
18:30 Padania v Western Armenia (Stepanakert)
6th June
18:00 (PL1) Group A 3rd v Group B 4th (Martuni)
18:00 (PL2) Group B 3rd v Group A 4th (Martakert)
18:30 (SF1) Group A 1st v Group B 2nd (Stepanakert)
16:00 (SF2) Group B 1st v Group A 2nd (Askeran)
8th June
16:00 Loser PL1 v Loser PL2 (Askeran)
11:00 Winner PL2 v Winner PL1 (Martuni)
18:30 Loser SF2 v Loser SF1 (Stepanakert, Bronze)
9th June
18:00 Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Stepanakert, Final)
