The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team will face Cyprus in the second round of Group H in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on March 24, 2025, at the "Bilino Polje" stadium in Zenica. Both teams enter the match with three points, but the significance of Bosnia's recent victory over Romania stands out, especially with the match's lone goal scored by Armin Gigović.
Cyprus, on the other hand, secured its points with a convincing 2-0 win against San Marino. However, Bosnia's triumph came at a cost, with Gigović sustaining a shoulder injury and captain Edin Džeko suffering a broken nose, casting doubt on his availability for tonight’s match. Coach Sergej Barbarez reported that while Gigović is expected to play, Džeko's condition remains uncertain as he did not participate in the team's training on March 23 at the Butmir Training Center in Sarajevo.
“We are only trying something with Edin, but he really looks like a warrior. But he has a will to play, beyond all criteria and all suggestions. That simply speaks of his character. Now we will wait for the game,” Barbarez stated, emphasizing the need for his team to maintain focus after their recent success.
He warned against complacency, noting that they must confirm their performance against Cyprus. Barbarez acknowledged the importance of the next series of matches, explaining, “We need to slowly collect the ‘icing on the cake’ and, perhaps – in these next three games against Austria, try to win the maximum points balance. That is some kind of plan and idea.” With a potential 12 points within reach against upcoming opponents, his team’s target is ambitious yet feasible.
Cyprus coach Apostolos Mantzios also held his team’s training session at the Zenica stadium on March 23 and expressed respect for Bosnia's team, emphasizing that he was not surprised by their victory over Romania. He acknowledged the psychological advantage Bosnia gains from that win but expressed confidence in his squad, saying, “If we play like we did against San Marino, we will achieve a positive result.” Mantzios is aware of the potential absence of Džeko and added, “As a coach, I cannot focus all my attention on just one player, but on the entire BiH team.”
In the history of encounters between Bosnia and Cyprus, the teams have faced each other four times, and every match has determined a winner. This statistic adds to the anticipation for the upcoming game; Bosnia holds a slight edge with two victories and a total goal difference of 8:7. Previous encounters include a notable Cyprus victory in 2014 during the European Championship qualifiers and a Bosnian win in the return match. In their last encounter, Cyprus narrowly defeated Bosnia 3-2 in the World Cup qualifiers.
As both teams look to secure a win, fans are expected to fill the Zenica stadium, eager to witness another thrilling chapter in this competitive rivalry. The match broadcasts live on BHRT, kicking off at 20:35 local time. With both teams seeking to solidify their positions in the qualifiers, it promises to be an engaging contest.
