Cyprus men's national basketball team explained

Country:	Cyprus
Coach:	Christophoros Livadiotis
Joined Fiba:	1974
Fiba Zone:	FIBA Europe
National Fed:	Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Καλαθοσφαίρισης (CBF)
Wc Appearances:	None
Zone Championship:	EuroBasket
Zone Appearances:	1 (Upcoming)
Zone Championship2:	Championship for Small Countries
Zone Appearances2:	4
Zone Medals2:	Silver: (1990, 1994) Bronze: (1988, 1992)
Zone Championship3:	Games of the Small States of Europe
Zone Appearances3:	16
Zone Medals3:	Gold: (1985, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017) Silver: (1989, 1993) Bronze: (1991, 2023)
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H Pattern S:	_yellow stripes
A Body:	0000FF
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First Game:	90–45 (Damascus, Syria; 17 April 1982)
Largest Win:	40–108 (Serravalle, San Marino; 1 June 2001)
Largest Loss:	135–60 (Prievidza, Slovakia; 22 June 1993)

The Cyprus men's national basketball team (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Εθνική ομάδα μπάσκετ της Κύπρου) represents Cyprus in international basketball, and is controlled by the Cyprus Basketball Federation. The national team is coached by Christophoros Livadiotis.

Cyprus joined FIBA in 1974, where the team has mostly competed in smaller competitions such as the Games of the Small States of Europe, winning it nine times. However, Cyprus will make their debut at the top continental competition, EuroBasket, as co-hosts in 2025.

History

Cyprus made its first appearance on the international scene in qualification for EuroBasket 1983. Although the national team would come up short in their attempt, with an (0–4) record.^[1] Furthermore, Cyprus has taken part at lower level tournaments, where they have been impressive. Cyprus has won two bronze medals, and two silver medals at the European Championship for Small Countries, while also taking home one bronze, two silver, and nine gold medals at the Games of the Small States of Europe.

During the first few decades on the international level for Cyprus, the national team went through multiple futile qualifying cycles which saw the team unable to successfully qualify for the EuroBasket. For qualification to EuroBasket 2017, Cyprus was placed into Group A during the qualifiers; although the team would once again be rebuffed at reaching the continental stage. Cyprus would ultimately finish up with a (2–4) record, with their only two victories coming against Switzerland.^[2]

Cyrus took part in qualifying for EuroBasket 2022, and was drawn into Group C for the first round of pre-qualifiers. The first test for the national team was against Portugal, at home in Nicosia. Cyprus would eventually prevail, in a tough match 69–67. Looking to stay perfect, the team played their next match on the road at Luxembourg. Immediately, Cyprus would run out to a big first quarter lead, and never looked back, winning 53–67. Cyprus dropped their final two matches of group play, to finish with a (2–2) record to advance.

During the second round of pre-qualifiers, Cyprus was placed into Group D, with Austria, and Great Britain. However, the national team failed to win a match, and finished with an (0–4) record. Cyprus blew an opportunity to advance to the final stage of qualifiers, but would have one more chance to make amends in the third round.

Heading into the final window of pre-qualifiers, Cyprus needed to finish top of Group F, if they were to achieve their goal. Unfortunately, the team would duplicate the results attained in the second round, with an (0–4) record once again. Cyprus ended the pre-qualifying process at a record of (2–10) overall, eliminating their opportunity to advance.^[3] After failing to qualify for EuroBasket 2022, Cyprus went through European Pre-Qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. However, they finished (1–5) during the first round to be eliminated.^[4]

In March 2022, Cyprus qualified for the EuroBasket for the first time in their history, by being awarded as one of the co-hosts for the group stage at EuroBasket 2025. Matches will be played at the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center in Limassol.^[5] ^[6] ^[7]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup

World Cup				Qualification
Year	Position	width=30	width=30		width=30		width=30	width=30	width=30
1978	Did not enter	Did not enter
1982
1986
1990
1994	Did not qualify	EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2019	Did not enter			Did not enter
2023	Did not qualify			6	1	5
2027	To be determined			To be determined
Total	0/12			6	1	5

Games of the Small States of Europe

Games of the Small States of Europe
Year	Position	width=40		width=40		width=40
1985	bgcolor=gold		3	3	0
1987	5th	3	1	2
1989	bgcolor=silver		4	2	2
1991		4	2	2
1993	bgcolor=silver		5	4	1
1995	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
1997	bgcolor=gold		4	3	1
2001	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
2003	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
2005	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
2007	Disqualified	5	3	2
2009	bgcolor=gold		5	5	0
2013	bgcolor=gold		4	4	0
2017	bgcolor=gold		5	5	0
2019	5th	4	0	4
2023		5	2	3
Total		67	50	17

EuroBasket

EuroBasket					Qualification
Year	Position	width=30		width=30		width=30		width=30	width=30	width=30
1975	Did not enter	Did not enter
1977
1979
1981
1983	Did not qualify	4	0	4
1985	5	2	3
1987	4	0	4
1989	Did not enter	Did not enter
1991
1993	Did not qualify	6	2	4
	5	0	5
	6	2	4
	8	3	5
	11	5	6
	15	4	11
2005	Division B				6	3	3
2007	Division B				6	1	5
2009	Division B				8	3	5
2011	Division B				6	0	6
2013	Did not qualify				8	0	8
	Did not enter				Did not enter
2017	Did not qualify	6	2	4
2022	12	2	10
2025	Qualified as co-host				To be determined
Total	1/24				116	29	87