Ireland’s EuroBasket 2029 Qualification Hopes Dim After Azerbaijan Loss

Ireland’s aspirations for a place in the EuroBasket 2029 finals suffered a setback with a narrow 76-75 defeat to Azerbaijan at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Wednesday, February 27, 2026. The result leaves Ireland with a challenging path forward in the EuroBasket 2029 qualification process.

Match Recap

The game was closely contested throughout, with Ireland initially taking a 19-18 lead in the first quarter. However, Azerbaijan responded strongly in the second quarter, capitalizing on their three-point shooting to establish a 35-41 lead at halftime. Azerbaijan connected on 56% of their three-point attempts in the first half, compared to Ireland’s 33%.

Early in the third quarter, Azerbaijan extended their lead to 12 points, but Ireland rallied after Wesley van Beck, Azerbaijan’s key player, fouled out of the game. A three-pointer from Matt Zona and free throws from Sam Alajiki helped Ireland reduce the deficit to five points entering the final quarter (54-59).

The fourth quarter saw several lead changes. Ireland briefly regained the lead, but crucial three-pointers from Azerbaijan captain Amil Hamzayev ultimately secured a 76-75 victory for the visitors. Captain Seán Flood hit a last-gasp two-pointer for Ireland, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback.

Key Performers

• Seán Flood (Ireland): Led the Irish scoring with 18 points.
• CJ Fulton (Ireland): Contributed with 7 points and 11 assists, demonstrating strong playmaking ability.
• Wesley van Beck (Azerbaijan): Despite fouling out, played a significant role in Azerbaijan’s first-half lead.
• Amil Hamzayev (Azerbaijan): Delivered critical three-pointers in the final quarter to secure the win.

Standings and Qualification Outlook

The defeat was Ireland’s third consecutive loss in Group A of the EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers. According to the current standings, two teams from the group will advance to the next pre-qualifying round – the group winner and the best second-placed team. Ireland will need a win in their next game against Luxembourg on Monday, March 2, 2026, to have any realistic chance of progressing, but their qualification hopes are now significantly diminished.

The EuroBasket 2029 qualification process began in November 2025 and will conclude in February 2029, determining the 20 FIBA Europe member nations who will join the automatically qualified co-hosts Estonia, Greece, Slovenia, and Spain at the EuroBasket 2029 finals tournament. EuroBasket 2029 qualification

Recent Results

Ireland previously defeated Azerbaijan 91-67 in Dublin in November 2024 and 79-64 away in Baku last year. However, Azerbaijan’s recent performance demonstrates their improvement and competitive edge. Ireland suffer blow to EuroBasket bid

The game against Azerbaijan was also broadcast live on YouTube. Ireland v Azerbaijan LIVE