Cyprus men's national football team faces Belarus in international friendly

The Cyprus men's national football team hosted Belarus in an international friendly match at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on March 26, 2026. The match served as the first game of the year for Cyprus, providing an opportunity for coach Akis Mantzios to test new players ahead of the autumn Nations League campaign. Belarus took the lead in the 24th minute when Tsikamiareu scored a header following a corner kick and a rebound off the post from Petsenin's volley. During the match, players Panagiotis Andreou, Stavros Georgiou, and Angelos Neofytou recorded their debuts for the national side, with Neofytou entering as a substitute in the 71st minute. The match was officiated by Serbian referee Milos Milanovic. Simultaneously, the Cyprus armed forces team recorded a 3-0 victory against Luxembourg in a separate military championship tournament, setting up a qualification decider against Germany. Reports regarding the friendly match noted local player complaints about a potential foul on goalkeeper Neofytos Michail during the build-up to the Belarus goal.