Constantinos Laifis injury concerns ahead of Nations League matches

APOEL defender Constantinos Laifis has experienced a recurrence of discomfort in the same area that previously sidelined him for the derby against Anorthosis. Although he played through the pain against Apollon, his recent relapse has cast doubt on his availability for the upcoming Cyprus national team fixtures in the Nations League. National team coach Apostolos Mantzios has decided to keep Laifis in the squad for daily monitoring, but as a precautionary measure, Evangelos Antoniou from AEL has been called up to the training camp. Defender Christos Sielis is also dealing with physical discomfort and will not travel for the away match against Montenegro.

The national team is currently preparing for their Nations League opener against Montenegro in Podgorica, scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, at 21:45. The match will be officiated by an Italian refereeing team, led by Daniele Chiffi. Coach Mantzios emphasized that he will not risk the health of players who are not fully fit. Cyprus historically struggles against Montenegro, having secured only three draws and two defeats in their five previous encounters, and aims to achieve its first-ever victory against this opponent.