The Macedonian U16 national team had their first gathering this year. They were supposed to play two friendlies against Estonia in Skopje on 19th and 21st of March but the games were canceled because of the great tragedy in Kochani. This generation of footballers played two friendly games in Antalya Province in Türkiye against Russia and Kyrgyzstan. In the first match we suffered a convincing defeat against Russia while in the second one we provided a comfortable win against Kyrgyzstan.

photo by FFM

Coach Nachevski had the opportunity to try out several new players in these matches, who should increase the competition in the team in the future.

March 23rd, Emirhan Sports Center in Manavgat
Russia – Macedonia 3:0 (2:0)
Goals: 26′ Leonid Salikhov, 43′ Yegor Potapenko, 49′ Artem Shpin’kov
Russia: Kozlov, A.Kuznetsov, Lemkin, Shpin’kov, Perelomov, Rybalov, Ivarlak, Mudrak, Koval’chuk, Potapenko, Salikhov. Bench: Orishchenko, Bezrogov, Ermolaev, Sary, I.Kuznetsov, Gritsyshchuk, Dunamalyan, Poleh, Andreev, Zoina, Bikbulatov. Coach: Vladimir Volchek
Macedonia: Grchevski, Jordanoski, Mihajlovski, Jordanov, Mitreski, Spaseski, Ljachka, Iljazovski, Islamovikj, Rakipi, Cvetkovski. Bench: Stoilkovski, Ceka, Liotoski, Gogachevski, Alomerović, Ramadani, Mircheski, Petkovski, Georgioski, Jazadjikj, Boshkovski, Papaliski, Ameti. Coach: Dragan Nachevski

Highlights:

March 25th, Side stadium in Side
Macedonia – Kyrgyzstan 2:0 (2:0)
Goals: 12′ (pen) Fadilj Islamovikj, 18′ Soner Rakipi
Macedonia: Ceka, Papaliski, Mihajlovski, Jordanov, Mitreski, Spaseski, Ljachka, Iljazovski, Islamovikj, Rakipi, Ameti. Bench: Stoilkovski, Grchevski, Liotoski, Gogachevski, Alomerović, Ramadani, Mircheski, Petkovski, Georgioski, Jazadjikj, Jordanoski, Boshkovski, Cvetkovski. Coach: Dragan Nachevski
Kyrgyzstan: no squad info. Coach: Alexander Bauer

Macedonian anthem during the Russia match; photo: FFM

Coach Dragan Nachevski invited 24 players for these friendlies:

Luka Grchevski – Grafičаr
Rinor Ceka – Shkendija
Ivan Stoilkovski – Rabotnichki

Stefan Jordanoski – Brera Strumica
Meldin Alomerović – Slovan
David Liotoski – Rabotnichki
Davor Jordanov – New Stars
Arian Ramadani – Shkendija
Mihail Mitreski – Makedonija GjP
Gregorijan Mihajlovski – Servette
Bozhidar Gogachevski – Pelister
Aleksa Jazadjikj – Makedonija GjP
Dejan Spaseski – Lecce
Soner Rakipi – Shkendija
Marko Mircheski – Ohrid Lychnidos
Blendi Ljachka – Fenerbahçe
Gorjan Petkovski – Makedonija GjP
Fadilj Islamovikj – Zagreb
Luka Georgioski – Brera Strumica
Andrej Cvetkovski – Rabotnichki
Vulnet Ameti – Shkupi
Kosta Boshkovski – Vardar
Arda Iljazovski – Boldklubben af 1893
Vasko Papaliski – Skopje