All You Need To Know: FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifier Ireland v Azerbaijan

Ireland meet Azerbaijan in our final game of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Pre-Qualifying in Baku later today. The Group A fixture will tip-off at 13:00, with live coverage on the TG4 YouTube, as well as the FIBA YouTube Channel.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Ireland have been contesting Group A in FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Pre-Qualifying alongside Switzerland, Kosovo and Azerbaijan. This is the final window of the first phase of qualification, with games taking place in two previous windows over the last 12 months. Mark Keenan's side come into the game in third place in the group behind Switzerland and Kosovo following Thursday's defeat to the Swiss in Fribourg coupled with Kosovo's one-point win against Azerbaijan in Prishtina, which dropped us to third-place in the standings on head-to-head rule with Kosovo. 

The winners of Group A, B and C will advance to the second phase of the competition, as will the best ranked, second place team from the three group's combined. Ireland currently sit in that position, with Luxembourg, Norway (Group B) and Armenia (Group C) all in contention. 

Speaking ahead of the game media day, head coach Mark Keenan said: 

"We had to park the performance in Switzerland on Thursday ver quickly. We had a long travel day to get here to Baku, but the lads have gotten themselves adjusted very quickly and we are ready to go again on Sunday afternoon. They're going to be out for revenge for the loss in Dublin, so we got to establish ourselves in the game really quickly - try and silence what's going to be a hostile crowd here - and I think if we can get on top early and get away from them, then they might drop their heads. 

We want to finish on a high. We want to take that second spot and finish at 3-3 in the group. I think that would be a great positive for us, so look we are really focused and determined to do that."

WATCH

The game will be broadcast live on the TG4 YouTube channel here with tip-off at 1300 or on the FIBA YouTube Channel.

SQUAD NEWS

There are no fresh injury concerns in the squad following Thursday's game in Switzerland. Taiwo Badmus, Aidan Igiehon and Paul Dick will miss the game due to injury, while Roy Downey is the other member of the squad from Ireland's back-to-back win's in November who misses out. 

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OPPOSITION VIEW

Azerbaijan arrive at their final fixture, sitting bottom of the group on a 1-4 record, but that one win came at home over Kosovo and they have important players returning from the team who lost 91-67 to Ireland in Dublin in November. Notably Donta Hall, who plays for Spanish ACB side Baskonia in the Turkish Airlines Euro League. Hall had 21 points and 16 rebounds, including eight offensive boards in Azerbaijan's 81-79 loss to Kosovo three days ago and figures to be the main dangerman for the hosts. 

Other names to look out for are Kamran Mammadov at the point and Saadettin Donat at the five. The home side have nothing to play for, but will be determined to move their home record to 2-1 in the group and end qualification on a positive note in Baku.  

IRELAND MEN’S TEAM ROSTER

Adrian O’Sullivan (Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU), Conor Quinn (Belfast Star), David Lehane, Kyle Hosford, James Hannigan (UCC Demons), John Carroll (EJ Sligo All-Stars), Jordan Blount (Flexachem KCYMS), Matt Treacy (Snaefell, Iceland), Neal Quinn (Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket, France), Rapolas Buivydas (Garveys Tralee Warriors), Seán Flood (London Lions, United Kingdom), Sean Jenkins (Griffith College Éanna),