APOEL faces squad changes ahead of Anorthosis match

APOEL is facing significant personnel challenges ahead of their Cyprus League match against Anorthosis on September 12, 2026. Coach Nikos Papadopoulos has been forced to adjust his starting lineup due to the absence of key players, specifically defender Konstantinos Laifis, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury, and Dalsio, who is suspended for the fixture. Additionally, the recently acquired defender Carrillo remains unavailable for selection.

To compensate for these absences, Papadopoulos has introduced Angelopoulos into the center of the defense and included Barak in the midfield for the match at the Antonis Papadopoulos stadium. This tactical shift comes shortly after a period of roster restructuring in which the club released 18 players and signed 10 new ones to streamline the squad according to the coach's 4-2-3-1 system. While the recent 6-0 victory against AEL raised expectations, the technical staff now faces the challenge of maintaining competitive stability without their primary defensive leader, Laifis, who is considered crucial to the team's backline organization.