{"id":1421,"date":"2017-02-27T15:47:45","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conifa.org\/en\/?p=1421"},"modified":"2021-08-05T12:25:57","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T11:25:57","slug":"teams-announced-for-2017-conifa-european-football-cup-in-northern-cyprus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conifa.org\/en\/teams-announced-for-2017-conifa-european-football-cup-in-northern-cyprus\/","title":{"rendered":"Teams announced for 2017 CONIFA European Football Cup in Northern Cyprus"},"content":{"rendered":"

World champions Abkhazia and continental champions Padania will be among the teams contesting the 2017\u00a0Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA)<\/a>\u00a0European Football Cup, to be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from 4-11 June.<\/p>\n

Following a recent vote by member associations, CONIFA announced that Abkhazia, Sapmi, County of Nice, Karpatalya, Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) and Sz\u00e9kely Land would join hosts Northern Cyprus and automatic qualifiers Padania at the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2017 European Football Cup will bring together some of our best teams for what promises to be an exciting week of competition,\u201d said CONIFA President Per-Anders Blind. \u201cWe are grateful to the K\u0131br\u0131s T\u00fcrk Futbol Federasyonu (KTFF), the governing body of football in Northern Cyprus, for their organisational efforts to date. The CONIFA family is looking forward to our visit in June!\u201d<\/p>\n

Northern Cyprus is a self-declared state in the north-eastern portion of Cyprus, popular with tourists due to its climate, beaches and history. Northern Cyprus proclaimed independence in 1983 and is recognised by Turkey.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorthern Cyprus has a proud football history,\u201d explained KTFF representative Orcun Kamali. \u201cWe have a strong semi-professional league on the island, and our national team finished third in the last CONIFA tournament. The decision to host the 2017 European Football Cup was an easy one.\u201d<\/p>\n

CONIFA is looking to build on a tremendously successful World Football Cup in 2016, which saw home-side Abkhazia lift the trophy following a thrilling final against Panjab. Over 100 accredited foreign journalists covered the tournament, while millions of people around the world engaged with CONIFA through social media during the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year\u2019s championship in Abkhazia was undoubtedly our biggest and best yet,\u201d CONIFA General Secretary Sascha D\u00fcerkop said. \u201cWe are hoping to maintain that momentum with a successful tournament in Northern Cyprus, as we look towards another World Football Cup in 2018.\u201d<\/p>\n

CONIFA is an international football federation for teams outside of FIFA, with members including states, de facto states, regions, minority groups and sports-isolated territories. CONIFA is a non-profit organisation registered in Sweden.<\/p>\n