Ibraimi and Ashkovski were additionally called up by national team coach Angelovski after Zajkov, Kostadinov and Trichkovski were forced to withdrew.

photo by FFM: Ibraimi celebrates a converted penalty against Serbia in October 2012

Central defender Gjoko Zajkov and midfielder Tihomir Kostadinov tester COVID-19 positive while attacker Ivan Trichkovski got a muscle injury while playing for his Cypriot club. All three will not arrive for the Monday national team gathering.

Igor Anglovski immediately summoned two players. Former standard national team offensive player Agim Ibraimi and left wing back Stefan Ashkovski from today are in the national team.

Ibraimi used to be the best player in the team in the period when Goran Pandev retired but than his form inexplicably went downhill. He has played a total of 39 matches and scored 7 goals, but hasn’t featured for Macedonia for exactly 5 years as his last cap was on March 29 in 2016 in the 0:2 friendly home defeat by Bulgaria. Since October Agim is at Albanian side Kukësi.

Ashkovski has 3 matches played for Macedonia, all back in 2015 under former coach Ljubinko Drulović and hasn’t been called up since. Angelovski did intend to summon him for the November matches, but due to the short notice and the covid-related travel restrictions, he could not arrive. He is a 29-year-old left lateral player currently playing for Romanina top flight side Botoșani.

These two players are taking the place of Trichkovski and Kostadinov, but Zajkov’s spot remains empty. We have to wait and see whether Angelovski will add a CB as well.

Macedonia has a scheduled gathering for Monday, while the WC opening qualifier is set to be played on Thursday against Romania away.