AMF President: Second European crown historic for Azerbaijani football

The Azerbaijani national minifootball team's second European Championship victory is a major milestone for the country's sport and football.

Speaking to Report's correspondent in Bratislava, Orkhan Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Minifootball Federation (AMF), shared his thoughts on the team's triumph at the tournament in Slovakia.

"I congratulate everyone on this victory - our fans in Azerbaijan and those here, as well as the sports and football community. It is a historic win. Our supporters gave us tremendous backing, coming from many European cities. I thank each of them, and I am grateful to our embassy here for their strong support from the very first day. To be European champions again is a source of immense pride. This is a great event for Azerbaijani sport and football," he said.

Mammadov recalled that the team also won gold at the 2022 European Championship, and later triumphed at the World Championship in Baku.

"After becoming world champions in Baku last year, teams began to treat us differently. In recent matches, we faced tough opponents who played against us with a different approach. I thank all our players, coaches, and federation staff. It is truly a great achievement. To be European champions for the second time is a huge pride. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told us after our world title that greater responsibility now lay on our shoulders, and that everyone would see us differently. He urged us to strive for more success. We knew it would be difficult, but today we are proud to have repeated that success. We thank our President for his continuous support, including financial backing for the federation. Meeting him twice has been a source of pride for our players," he added.

Mammadov explained the reasons behind achieving two European titles and one world title in just four years: "From the day the federation was established, we identified the right players and gradually built the core squad. The head coach, Elshad Guliyev, has played a huge role. Thanks to his efforts, we have assembled such a strong team. This shows that Azerbaijan has talented athletes and footballers. With hard work and the state's support, results always follow."

The Azerbaijani team defeated Ukraine 2–0 in the final of the European Championship (2026 EMF Euro).