The Azerbaijan men's national basketball team faced North Macedonia today at home as part of the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers.

According to Offsideplus.az, head coach Tahir Bakhshiyev and captain Amil Hamzayev shared their thoughts on the match during the post-game press conference.

Head Coach Tahir Bakhshiyev:

"It was a tough game. We really wanted to win this one. We started the match well, and I have no complaints about the guys regarding our defense; they played well. However, we couldn't capitalize on our scoring opportunities. Fatigue also played a significant role. We had previously lost to this opponent by a 36-point margin. Being in a position to win against them today is a big step forward. In recent games, the players have defended well and tried to build more self-confidence. In the Azerbaijan Cup, teams play with two local players on the court, but in matches like this, players need consistent game time. This overall experience is having a positive impact on the national team."

Captain Amil Hamzayev:

"We played well defensively. We tried to win the first period through our offense. Although we wanted to maintain a strong defense, we made errors leading to turnovers. Our rotation tightened in terms of scoring. We played this way against a team we had previously lost to by 36-38 points. We could have won, but mentally, we couldn't take that final step. While some players aren't necessarily 'young' for basketball, they are competing in such high-level tournaments for the first time.

We faced a similar situation in Ireland; hope faded after Van Beck left the court. I want to thank the fans for not leaving us alone. The goal isn't just to fill the stands, but to make people fall in love with basketball in this country. God willing, we will try to win our final two games and make the most of our chances in the group.

I believe the recent Cup matches had an adverse effect. Ulas and Jabrayil played many games and were exhausted. We really missed Van Beck today. It’s been said that we secured our first away win in 14 years, but it's important to remember there was a gap in activity for 11-12 of those years."